Impact of Bed Materials Grain Size Distribution on Sediment Transport Path and Erosion- Sedimentation Pattern at the River Confluence

The grain size distribution of the riverbed materials plays an important role in the erosion, sedimentation, change of river morphology and riverbank stability. The complex hydraulic flow on the one hand and the changes in the composition of the sediment of the riverbed as the eroded or deposited particles on the other hand causes changes in the sedimentation and erosion patterns at the river confluences. The literature review shows that few experimental studies have been conducted on this topic. Although applying numerical models are entwined with some limitations, they could be used as the suitable and economical tools. In the present study, firstly the SSIIM1 model was calibrated by the measured data at the confluence of the two rectangular open channels with the crossing angle of 60o and then, the impact of riverbed materials’ grain size distribution on sedimentation and erosion patterns was studied. In this regard, four types of grain size distribution with the same D50 and different standard deviation (σg) values were applied and their results were compared with each other and with uniform distribution, as well. The results illustrated that the maximum depth of erosion was decreased by increasing σg and its spatial location was closer to the downstream corner of channel confluences. Moreover, the maximum height of the sedimentation increased with increasing σg. In the following, the spanwise changes in sediment concentrations and paths of maximum sediment transport have been detected.