Analytical Model for Graded Sediment Transport in Velocity‐ and Acceleration‐Skewed Oscillatory Sheet Flow

Abstract

AbstractAn analytical model is proposed for graded sediment transport in velocity‐ and acceleration‐skewed oscillatory sheet flow. The model consists of periodic velocity and sediment concentration formulae over a mobile sediment bed. An active layer is set below the mobile sediment bed level to handle erosion differences among size fractions. The model accounts for velocity phase lead, sediment phase lag, velocity and acceleration asymmetries, and gradation effects. The model is validated using datasets of velocity, concentration, sediment flux, and transport rate. Better performance is obtained by the model when compared to previous formulae. Discussion is conducted for net boundary layer flow, total, and fractional sediment fluxes under both velocity‐ and acceleration‐skewed oscillatory flows, and the result shows the existence of inhibited or promoted transport for different size fractions. The model is applied to describe the sediment size grading curve at different levels. The composition of transported sediment is different from the initial bed composition. The fining of sediment above the initial bed and the coarse below the initial bed are reproduced by the model, which reveals the vertical sorting processes at different locations. Meanwhile, interactions between fractions are substantial in the sheet flow layer but are insignificant in the suspension layer. The model is suitable for non‐cohesive sediment mixtures consisting of fine, medium, and coarse proportions and has implications for predicting nearshore‐graded sediment transport and sorting processes.