Introduction to the Physics of Cohesive Sediment Dynamics in the Marine Environment (Relié)

This book is meant as an introduction into the physical processes of cohesive sediment in the marine environment with a focus on highly dynamic systems, such as estuaries and coastal seas. In addition some processes on the continental shelf are treated. Furthermore, the important effects of chemistry, biology and gas are briefly discussed. The process descriptions are based on hydrodynamic and soil mechanic principles, and these have been integrated at the soil-water interface.
This approach is substantiated through a classification scheme of sediment occurrences in which distinction is made between cohesive and granular material. Ample attention is paid to the important interactions between turbulent flow and cohesive sediment suspensions and to the impact of flow and wave induced forces on the stability of the seabed. This book presents a thorough overview of the literature on cohesive sediment dynamics and highlights a number of new developments, in particular in relation to floc formation, settling and sedimentation, consolidation, stresses within the bed and bed failure and liquefaction and erosion of the bed.
Moreover, it presents a summary on methods and techniques to measure the sediment properties necessary to quantify the various parameters in the physical mathematical model descriptions. Recipes for problem solving have deliberately been omitted, but a number of examples and case studies have been included.