Fluid and Sediment Interaction Over a Plane Bed

A mathematical model is developed for the fluid and sediment interaction in an erodible channel. The model is based on the conservation of mass and momentum for the fluid and sediment. The interaction between the fluid and sediment, as well as the interaction of sediment particles moving in the vicinity of the bed is described in the model. An analysis is performed to derive the vertical distributions of the fluid velocity and sediment concentration over a plane bed in a wide open channel. The analysis yields the friction factor due to the combined effects of grain roughness and sediment movement, as well as the rate of sediment transport. The developed model agrees with existing data for plane beds. The predicted rate of transport of coarse sediment agrees with the Meyer‐Peter and Muller formula. However, detailed measurements of the fluid velocity and sediment concentration over a plane bed are required for a rigorous verification of the developed model.