Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms

<p>Despite a rich history of studies investigating fluid dynamics over bedforms and dunes in rivers, the spatiotemporal patterns of sub-bedform bedload transport remain poorly understood. Previous experiments assessing the effects of flow separation on downstream fluid turbulent structures and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: K. C. P. Leary, L. Tevis, M. Schmeeckle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-09-01
Series:Earth Surface Dynamics
Online Access:https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/835/2023/esurf-11-835-2023.pdf
_version_ 1797692386378252288
author K. C. P. Leary
L. Tevis
M. Schmeeckle
author_facet K. C. P. Leary
L. Tevis
M. Schmeeckle
author_sort K. C. P. Leary
collection DOAJ
description <p>Despite a rich history of studies investigating fluid dynamics over bedforms and dunes in rivers, the spatiotemporal patterns of sub-bedform bedload transport remain poorly understood. Previous experiments assessing the effects of flow separation on downstream fluid turbulent structures and bedload transport suggest that localized, intermittent, high-magnitude transport events (i.e., permeable splat events) play an important role in both downstream and cross-stream bedload transport near flow reattachment. Here, we report results from flume experiments that assess the combined effects of flow separation–reattachment and flow re-acceleration over fixed two-dimensional bedforms (1.7 cm high; 30 cm long). A high-speed camera observed bedload transport along the entirety of the bedform at 250 frames per second. Grain trajectories, grain velocities, and grain transport directions were acquired from bedload images using semiautomated particle-tracking techniques. Downstream and vertical fluid velocities were measured 3 mm above the bed using laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) at 15 distances along the bedform profile. Mean downstream fluid velocity increases nonlinearly with increasing distance along the bedform. However, observed bedload transport increases linearly with increasing distance along the bedform, except at the crest of the bedform, where both mean downstream fluid velocity and bedload transport decrease substantially. Bedload transport time series and manual particle-tracking data show a zone of high-magnitude, cross-stream transport near flow reattachment, suggesting that permeable splat events play an essential role in the region downstream of flow reattachment.</p>
first_indexed 2024-03-12T02:26:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3fbb747e083d4058a5d9e229fded37b7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2196-6311
2196-632X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T02:26:52Z
publishDate 2023-09-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Earth Surface Dynamics
spelling doaj.art-3fbb747e083d4058a5d9e229fded37b72023-09-05T11:44:07ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth Surface Dynamics2196-63112196-632X2023-09-011183584710.5194/esurf-11-835-2023Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedformsK. C. P. Leary0L. Tevis1M. Schmeeckle2New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Socorro, NM, USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM, USASchool of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA<p>Despite a rich history of studies investigating fluid dynamics over bedforms and dunes in rivers, the spatiotemporal patterns of sub-bedform bedload transport remain poorly understood. Previous experiments assessing the effects of flow separation on downstream fluid turbulent structures and bedload transport suggest that localized, intermittent, high-magnitude transport events (i.e., permeable splat events) play an important role in both downstream and cross-stream bedload transport near flow reattachment. Here, we report results from flume experiments that assess the combined effects of flow separation–reattachment and flow re-acceleration over fixed two-dimensional bedforms (1.7 cm high; 30 cm long). A high-speed camera observed bedload transport along the entirety of the bedform at 250 frames per second. Grain trajectories, grain velocities, and grain transport directions were acquired from bedload images using semiautomated particle-tracking techniques. Downstream and vertical fluid velocities were measured 3 mm above the bed using laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) at 15 distances along the bedform profile. Mean downstream fluid velocity increases nonlinearly with increasing distance along the bedform. However, observed bedload transport increases linearly with increasing distance along the bedform, except at the crest of the bedform, where both mean downstream fluid velocity and bedload transport decrease substantially. Bedload transport time series and manual particle-tracking data show a zone of high-magnitude, cross-stream transport near flow reattachment, suggesting that permeable splat events play an essential role in the region downstream of flow reattachment.</p>https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/835/2023/esurf-11-835-2023.pdf
spellingShingle K. C. P. Leary
L. Tevis
M. Schmeeckle
Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms
Earth Surface Dynamics
title Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms
title_full Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms
title_short Spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two-dimensional bedforms
title_sort spatiotemporal bedload transport patterns over two dimensional bedforms
url https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/11/835/2023/esurf-11-835-2023.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT kcpleary spatiotemporalbedloadtransportpatternsovertwodimensionalbedforms
AT ltevis spatiotemporalbedloadtransportpatternsovertwodimensionalbedforms
AT mschmeeckle spatiotemporalbedloadtransportpatternsovertwodimensionalbedforms