Suspended Sediment Effect on Flow Resistance

Abstract

A general velocity distribution consisting of a logarithmic profile plus a wake function has been used to investigate the effect of suspended sediment on flow resistance. From the experimental evidence that the wake constant increases when sediment is in suspension, it is shown that flow resistance must be reduced. It is shown that a flow with suspended sediments should have lower velocities near the boundary and higher velocities further away from the boundary than a clear water flow, given that the discharge and slope are identical.