Measurement of particle velocity during sediment consolidation

✍ Scribed by K.P. Galvin

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 583 KB
• Volume: 51
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(95)00374-6

✦ Synopsis

In order to examine the process of sediment consolidation, a new technique was developed to measure the velocities of individual particles, Vs, as a function of the time, t, and absolute elevation, h. A series of batch settling tests was conducted, with a CCD camera and microscope objective positioned at a different elevation in each test. At a given time during the sediment consolidation, the particles in the field of view were observed to be in close contact and to move downwards en masse. Within a limited domain of the h vs t plane, the velocity of a particle varied empirically according to V~ = VoZ(h/t) 3, where V 0 was a constant. Deviations from this relationship occurred toward the end of the consolidation when all movement appeared to cease, and at positions near the top of the sediment.