Analysis and Modelling Guide: Sediment Transport Modelling Method Indicator YES Summary of Key Issues Issue Description

Analysis and Modelling Guide
SEDIMENT TRANSPORT MODELLING
Method Indicator
Bottom-Up Hybrid Top-Down
YES
Summary of key issues

Issue Description
Description Process based modelling of bed load and suspended sand and/or
mud movement, with relationships to determine the rates of erosion
and deposition.
Temporal Typically applied to the short to medium-term (single tide up to
Applicability several months)
Spatial Applicability Typically estuary wide
Links with Other Most often dynamically linked to hydrodynamic models thus allowing
Tools for a change in the hydrodynamic taking account of the change in
bed elevations over the simulation time period. Can be linked to
sediment budget analysis, expert geomorphological analysis,
sediment quality and water quality, for example.
Data Sources Model set up
Sediment characteristics:
• Grain type and size;
• Settling velocity;
• Sediment density;
• Critical shear stress;
• Shear strength.
Sediment distributions:
• Initial sediment thickness;
• Mixing coefficients.
Boundary conditions:
• Seaward and riverine suspended sediment concentrations;
• Location of sediment inputs.
Calibration and verification data:
• Suspended sediment concentrations;
• Historic bathymetric data.
Necessary Software Hydrodynamic modelling system linked with a sediment transport
Tools / Skills module.
Typical Analyses Mass balance equation uses predictions of current velocity and
various sediment characteristics to output calculations of sediment
concentrations. The effect of turbulence is included by applying a
well-known Reynolds procedure.
Momentum balance for the fluid-sediment mixture is solved to
represent the modification of transport of particles resulting from the
presence of other particles in suspension (Brownian motion).
Limitations Correct sediment distributions are only produced if salinity is well
reproduced as well as correct river discharges, tidal flow, topography
and, intertidally, the occurrence of vegetation. Different equations are
needed to deal with the differences between transports of cohesive
or non-cohesive material, Hence different models are often used
when modelling sand and mud sediment.
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Sediment Transport Modelling
Introduction
Sediment transport modelling methods are aimed at providing information regarding the
movement of sediment within hydrodynamic systems, such as estuaries. Outputs from a
sediment transport model include estimates of suspended sediment concentrations, rates of
sediment erosion and deposition and sediment transport pathways.
The majority of sediment transport models are based on either outputs from hydrodynamic
models or solve both hydrodynamic and sediment related equations at each time step of the
model simulation. In both cases predictions of water levels and currents, driven by tidal,
discharge, wave and meteorological forcing are used in the numerical solving of the
equations describing sediment movements.
Because of the variety of sediment types, sizes and transport mechanisms occurring within
an estuary a range of mathematical equations are required to simulate the sedimentary
processes occurring in estuarine systems (Fredsøe & Deigaard, 1992; van Rijn, 1993;
Soulsby, 1994; Whitehouse et al. 2000). In different models, varying formats and types of
sediment transport equations are solved. Different equations are needed to deal with the
differences between transports of cohesive or non-cohesive material. Hence different
models are often used when modelling sand and mud sediment.
In the majority of sediment transport models the basic equations solved numerically include
(van Rijn, 1993):
• A mass-balance equation, which uses predictions of current velocity and various

sediment characteristics to output calculations of sediment concentrations. The effect of
turbulence is included by applying a well-known Reynolds procedure;
• A momentum balance for the fluid-sediment mixture is solved to represent the
modification of transport of particles resulting from the presence of other particles in
suspension (Brownian motion);
• Sediment particles are carried (advected) by the mean flow in both horizontal and
vertical directions, while simultaneously moved by turbulent eddy motions. Particles are
also carried downwards by gravitational forces (settling). Horizontal and vertical mixing
terms are included in equations to simulate mixing processes.
Before any of these equations can be numerically solved, a whole range of sediment
characteristics (grain size, particle density, critical shear stress, shear strength of the bed,
settling velocity,) must be defined (WL|delft hydraulics, 2001).
A number of sediment transport modelling studies have shown that correct sediment
distributions are only produced if salinity is well reproduced as well as correct river
discharges, tidal flow, topography and, intertidally, the occurrence of vegetation.
Consequently the estuarine circulation pattern is particularly important in determining
sediment movement. It is important that circulation patterns within a specific estuary are
careful considered to ensure the correct processes are being represented in the sediment
model (STOWA-RIZA guide, 1999).
Within an estuary the processes of erosion or accretion are likely to have feedback effects
on the hydrodynamics within the system. Large amounts of deposition may cause the tidal
flow in that area to considerably increase or shifted into different channels. For this reason
sediment transport models should only be used to compute sediment transport rates over
relatively short time scales, (one to two tidal cycles.) If sediment transport rates in an estuary
are particularly small the model could be used to predict transport over longer periods
(EMPHASYS Consortium, 2000). In very dynamic estuarine systems it is important that
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morphological bed-updating models are used, as these take into account feedback affects
by updating the estuary bed.
Data requirements
In addition to the data requirements outlined for the hydrodynamic modelling a large number
of measurements are required to ensure the set-up, calibration and validation of a
reasonable sediment transport model. The data requirements are listed below.
Model Set-up
Inclusion of the following parameters needs considering in the model setup:
• Sediment Characteristics;
• Grain type and size;
• Settling velocity;
• Sediment density;
• Critical shear stress;
• Shear strength;
• Sediment distributions;
• Initial sediment thickness;
• Mixing coefficients.
Boundary conditions
• Seaward and riverine suspended sediment concentrations;

• Location of sediment inputs.
Calibration and verification data
• Suspended sediment concentrations;

• Historic bathymetric data.
Conclusion
Sediment transport modelling methods provide information about sediment movement within
estuarine systems, including suspended sediment concentrations, rates of sediment erosion
and deposition and sediment transport pathways. Numerical models are aided by
predictions of water levels and currents, driven by tidal, discharge, wave and meteorological
forcing are used in the numerical solving of the equations describing sediment movements.
A range of mathematical equations are required to simulate the sedimentary processes
occurring in estuarine systems. These differ according to the cohesiveness of the sediment,
resulting in a range of complex sediment models.
References
EMPHASYS Consortium, 2000, Modelling estuary morphology and process. Estuary
Research Programme, Phase 1, MAFF Contract CSA 4938, Final Report, HR Wallingford
TR 111, 222pp.
Fredsøe, J. and Deigaard, R., 1992, Mechanics of coastal sediment transport. World
Scientific Publishing Co Ltd, Singapore.
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Soulsby, R.L., 1994, Manual of Marine Sands. Thomas Telford, London, 1-70.
STOWA/RIZA, 1999, Smooth modelling in water management: Good modelling practice

handbook. Dutch Department of Public Works, Institute of Inland Water Management and
Waste Water Treatment, Den Haag, Netherlands, Report No: STOWA report 99-05, 167pp.
van Rijn, L.C., 1993, Principles of sediment transport in rivers, estuaries and coastal seas.
Aqua Publications, The Netherlands.
Whitehouse, R., Soulsby, R.L., Roberts, W. and Mitchener, H., 2000, Dynamics of estuarine
muds. Thomas Telford, London.
© Abpmer, 22/05/2008, V1.0 4


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Analysis and Modelling Guide

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT MODELLING

Summary of key issues

© Abpmer, 22/05/2008, V1.0 1

• A mass-balance equation, which uses predictions of current velocity and various

© Abpmer, 22/05/2008, V1.0 2

• Seaward and riverine suspended sediment concentrations;

Calibration and verification data

• Suspended sediment concentrations;

© Abpmer, 22/05/2008, V1.0 3

STOWA/RIZA, 1999, Smooth modelling in water management: Good modelling practice

© Abpmer, 22/05/2008, V1.0 4

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