Sediment Transport and River Mechanics - 575.728

This course emphasizes the basics of sediment transport, erosion, and deposition, focusing on how flow and transport dynamics shape river channels. Topics include boundary-layer flow, physical properties of sediment, incipient motion, bedload, and suspended-sediment transport. Fluvial geomorphic principles of channel morphology are explored through discussion of channel equilibrium, channel meandering, and channel change. Sediment flux is examined using a sediment budget framework that integrates key components such as bank erosion, upland erosion, and floodplain deposition. Modern approaches for constructing sediment budgets, including sediment fingerprinting and DEM differencing, are presented. The course also considers the influence of natural and human forcings on river systems and sediment transport.Prerequisite(s): A course in fluid mechanics or an equivalent course in fluid flow or hydraulics. A course in statistics is strongly encouraged.