The Intrusion of Fine Sediments into a Stable Gravel Bed

Abstract

A rectangular flume was used to study variables affecting the intrusion of fine sands into a stable gravel streambed. The amount of intrusion by sand (median particle diameter 0.5 mm) was determined under varied conditions of discharge, depth, velocity, flume slope, and rates of sediment transport. During all experimental tests, sand particles were trapped in voids within the upper 10 cm of an initially clean gravel bed (median particle diameter 15 mm), forming a barrier to further intrusion. An analysis of flow variables showed that flow conditions, as indexed by Froude number, significantly (90% confidence level) affected intrusion amounts, possibly by influencing the rate and depth of formation of the sand seal. Intrusion amounts, expressed as a percent of total volume, varied from 2 to 8%. Two replications used a finer grade sand (median particle diameter 0.2 mm) that intruded more and, in one case, completely filled the gravel pore space (25% by volume), further indicating that particle size, and not hydraulic variables, may have a more important influence on the total amount of intrusion. Key words: sediment transport, intrusion, streambed, substrates, riffles, sedimentation