Influence of bed surface structure on bedload transport in mountain rivers

Abstract

Abstract Mountain rivers are characterized by wide grain size distributions and complex bed surface structures, which significantly affect bedload transport. Owing to the lack of a clear understanding of the quantitative influence of the bed surface structure on the bedload transport rate, existing methods for estimating the bedload transport rate in mountain rivers produce large errors. Based on theoretical analysis and flume experiments, this study reveals the influence of bed surface structure on nonuniform bedload transport and proposes a method for estimating bedload transport rate considering the quantitative influence of bed surface structure. The findings of the present study provide theoretical methodological support for predicting the sediment transport and bed evolution in mountain rivers.

Keywords

• bed surface structure
• bedload transport
• mountain rivers
• nonuniform sediment