Type
PhD research
Duration
2024 – 2028
Persons involved
E. Poursoleymanzadeh (PhD Candidate)
prof.dr. K.M. Wijnberg (Promotor)
dr.ir. E.M. Horstman (Daily Supervisor)
dr.ir. J.J. van der Werf (Daily Supervisor)
Funding of the project
NWO
Summary of the research
In near-shore zones, understanding how grain size and particle size distribution (PSD) of sand affect its transport and bed size compositions over time and space is important. This can support nourishment strategies, for example to prolong their lifetime. Grain-size heterogeneity effects are categorized into two groups: first, solely their homogeneous change of dimensions (called grain-size effect), and second, the interactions between grains of varying sizes (called gradation effect). According to Van Rijn (2007c), sand grains behave differently when they are in a heterogeneous mixture rather than in a uniform one. Coarser grains begin to move under lower stresses when they are in a heterogeneous sand mixture rather than in uniform size mixture while fine sands behave the opposite way. The underlying sediment transport processes for sand mixtures are not fully understood. Moreover, practical sediment transport formulations (e.g., Van Rijn, SANTOSS) cannot reliably predict the net transport of mixed sands, and morphological models do not render trustworthy results. Extracting data from laboratory experiments and field campaigns provides us with the means to answer the related research questions. This part of the SOURCE project aims to improve the knowledge on “Effects of grain-size heterogeneity on coastal sand transport and morphodynamics” and its implications for coastal nourishments.
Keywords
Grain size
Gradation
Heterogeneous sand transport
Sand mixture
Non-uniform
Non-native sands
Nourishments Morphodynamics
More information
Erfan Poursoleymanzadeh
Room: Horst-Ring Z236
Tel: +31534891450
E-mail: E.poursoleyman@utwente.nl