VELOCITY AND CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTIONS OF SEDIMENT‐LADEN OPEN CHANNEL FLOW1

ABSTRACT: A mathematical model to predict both velocity and concentration distributions for sediment‐laden open channel flow is developed. Velocity profiles are derived by theoretical analysis and numerical method. Logarithmic law and semi‐empirical wake function concept are not adopted. An empirical equation for the ratio of sediment exchange and fluid diffusion coefficients is considered to solve the diffusion equation for suspended‐sediment concentration profiles. Four sets of experimental data from previous researchers are compared to numerical calculation. In the engineering applications, velocity and concentration profiles of sediment‐laden flow can be predicted simultaneously by the present model with the measured velocity and sediment‐concentration at reference level.