Mechanics of Saltating Grains. II

Abstract

A numerical model of saltation akin to those of previous researchers is presented to investigate the detailed nature of bed load motion in terms of the mechanics of saltation. The model is deterministic in the computation of particle trajectory, but probabilistic in terms of bed collision. This probabilistic element arises from the random structure of the bed. In the present analysis, a stochastic treatment of collision allows for a fairly complete model of saltation in water. Characteristic quantities, including the sediment transport rate itself, are derived and compared with experimental data. The model yields good agreement with data with a minimum of assumptions. The assumed three‐dimensional random structure of the bed is a unique feature of the present model. It allows for the prediction of several phenomena that cannot be obtained via the assumption of a regular two‐dimensional bed structure.