On related aspects in modeling of hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes in muddy estuaries

A two-dimensional numerical model is presented, which employs a finite volume method based on an unstructured triangular mesh, and uses the Roe-MUSCL scheme and the predictor-corrector procedure for time stepping.In the model, the source terms for the transport of cohesive and non-cohesive sediments are respectively calculated by different methods.Besides, the formulae of incipient velocity and erosion source term for cohesive sediments are both applied.The model is first validated against the available observed data obtained from a flume experiment.It is then applied to simulate the processes of hydrodynamic and sediment transport in the Haihe Estuary.The model predictions generally agreed with the observed data measured during the neap and spring tidal cycles in September 1995, which demonstrates the capability of the model to simulating the transport process of both cohesive and non-cohesive sediment in muddy estuaries. The use of different sediment transport treatments on model simulations is further investigated.The result shows that it is necessary to consider the transport of both cohesive and non-cohesive sediments in muddy estuaries.