VELOCITY AND CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTIONS IN SEDIMENT-MIXED FLUID: AN APPROACH WITH MIXING LENGTH CONCEPT

ABSTRACT

Mathematical models have been developed to predict the vertical velocity and sediment concentration distributions in a sediment-laden turbulent open channel flow taking into account a modified mixing length based on sediment-induced stratification. The coupled non-linear differential equations for vertical velocity and concentration arising out of the problem have been solved numerically and the results have been compared with the comprehensive exiting data. Comparison shows good agreement with the observed data, which proves the validity of the present model.

KEY WORDS:

• Mixing length
• Richardson number
• Sediment suspension
• Turbulent shear stress
• Hindered settling effect
• Velocity and concentration profiles