Print Email Facebook Twitter A Classification of Clay-Rich Subaqueous Density Flow Structures Title A Classification of Clay-Rich Subaqueous Density Flow Structures Author Hermidas, N. (TU Delft Applied Geology) Eggenhuisen, Joris T. (Universiteit Utrecht) Jacinto, Ricardo Silva (Marine Geosciences Unit Ifremer) Luthi, S.M. (TU Delft Applied Geology) Toth, Ferenc (University of Szeged) Pohl, Florian (Universiteit Utrecht) Date 2018-04-01 Abstract This study presents a classification for subaqueous clay-laden sediment gravity flows. A series of laboratory flume experiments were performed using 9%, 15%, and 21% sediment mixture concentrations composed of sand, silt, clay, and tap water, on varying bed slopes of 6°, 8°, and 9.5°, and with discharge rates of 10 and 15 m3/hr. In addition to the characteristics of the boundary and plug layers, which have been previously used for the classification of open-channel clay-laden flows, the newly presented classification also incorporates the treatment of the free shear layer. The flow states within the boundary and free shear layers were established using calculation of the inner variable, self-similarity considerations, and the magnitude of the apparent viscosity. Based on the experimental observations four flow types were recognized: (1) a clay-rich plug flow with a laminar free shear layer, a plug layer, and a laminar boundary layer, (2) a top transitional plug flow containing a turbulent free shear layer, a plug layer, and a laminar boundary layer, (3) a transitional turbidity current with a turbulent free shear layer, no plug layer, and a laminar boundary layer, and (4) a fully turbulent turbidity current. A connection between the emplaced deposits and the relevant flow types is drawn and it is shown that a Froude number, two Reynolds numbers, and a dimensionless yield stress parameter are sufficient to associate an experimental flow type with a natural large-scale density flow. Subject Clay-laden flowDebriteFlow classificationPlug flowScalingTurbidite To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d1af2237-ac8a-438a-ab7b-2ae790acd86c DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JF004386 Embargo date 2018-12-01 ISSN 2169-9003 Source Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123 (5) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2018 N. Hermidas, Joris T. Eggenhuisen, Ricardo Silva Jacinto, S.M. Luthi, Ferenc Toth, Florian Pohl Files PDF Hermidas_et_al_2017_Journ ... urface.pdf 4.76 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:d1af2237-ac8a-438a-ab7b-2ae790acd86c/datastream/OBJ/view