Evaluation of the Gamma Law for Settling Velocity and Trapping Capacity Analysis of Suspended Particles in a Dam Reservoir (Lobo River in Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Human activities and climate change are currently dominant processes that affect hydrological processes, resulting in alterations in water and sediment flows. Evaluation of the settling velocity of suspended solids is a critical parameter in modelling sediment transport. In this study, we investigated seasonal changes in suspended solids’ settling velocity and trapping capacity in the presence and absence of water turbulence on a dam reservoir. Using key parameters such as flow rate, mean settling velocity (V¯), critical velocity (vc), suspended solids concentration, ratio V¯/vc, and shape parameter ‘r’, the trapping capacity on the dam reservoir on the Lobo River in a tropical region was estimated. The results show that, considering the settling velocity of suspended solids, following the Gamma distribution law remains an innovative solution proposed to evaluate the trapping capacity in water reservoirs. The results show that the mean suspended solids settling velocity V¯ is well above the median rate V50%. For a parameter V¯/vc ≥ 4, there is an increase in the trapping capacity of the water retention. As established, a large proportion of the sediment is trapped. Furthermore, for a parameter V¯/vc ≤ 4, a decrease in the trapping capacity of the Lobo River water reservoir is observed.