Influence of stress history on sediment transport and channel bed evolution in gravel-bed rivers

Sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers controls the river morphology, aquatic habitat, and landscape evolution. The sediment supply together with the flow dictates the amount and texture of the supplied sediment to the channel and likely influences the transport rates, bed stability, and evolution of the bed surface. However, the previous research mainly focused on the effects of increasing flow and sediment supply on transport rates. How does the bed surface evolve with rising and falling flows and sediment supply in terms of armouring, sediment clusters, bed protrusions, and surface grains size is relatively unexplored? We proposed a flume-based experimental study to explore the impacts of past flows (stress-history) and sediment supply on transport rates and bed evolution. The outcomes of this study might help in improving bedload transport rates and other river processes including flow resistance. We plan to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals to disseminate knowledge, which will benefit river scientists and policymakers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Marwan Hassan

Student:

Partner:

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Water; Environmental Science and Technology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: