Velocity and Sediment‐Concentration Profiles in River Flows

Abstract

An equation for the exponent in the power‐law velocity distribution is formulated by relating the rate of energy dissipation due to turbulent shear of the sediment bed‐layer to the increased rate of fluid‐shear energy dissipation produced by the moving sediment. The suspended‐sediment concentration distribution corresponding to the power‐law velocity profile is calculated and simplified. The relation derived for the power‐law exponent is found to be in good agreement with data from a large group of flume and river flows. The powerlaw velocity profile and the corresponding concentration distribution are shown to be in excellent conformity with the distributions measured by Vanoni and Brooks.