Author(s): Yuanping Yang; Gang Chen; Ruifeng Wang; Yinan Lin

Linked Author(s): Gang CHEN

Keywords: Model sand; Lightweight; Irregular shape; Hydrodynamic characteristics; Physical modeling

Abstract: Model sand is an important technique in sediment physical model experiments, which directly relates to the similarity of sediment initiation and riverbed deformation in moving bed models. Due to the unstable physical and chemical properties of model sand, the commonly used model sand often leads to changes in sediment movement and similarity of riverbed erosion and sedimentation during the experimental process, which affects the accuracy of the experimental results. By optimizing material selection and processing technology, a new type of irregularly shaped lightweight model sand has been developed. The model sand has stable properties, good hydrophilicity, a wide range of particle sizes, and adjustable density. A study was conducted in the laboratory on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the newly mass-produced lightweight model sand, including its shape characteristics, dry wet bulk density, starting flow velocity, settling velocity, and underwater angle of repose. Further engineering experiments were conducted, and the results showed that the hydrodynamic parameters of the model sand were similar to those of the prototype sand and had strong stability. It can be widely used in physical model tests of sediment in rivers, estuaries, and coasts, as well as local erosion and deposition tests in engineering.

DOI:

Year: 2024