Author(s): Rezar Lleshi; Elisa Dallavalle; Massimo Guerrero; Vittorio Di Federico
Linked Author(s): Massimo Guerrero
Keywords: Sediment transport; Numerical modeling; Long-term analysis
Abstract: The general shape of rivers is influenced by the convergence of flow hydraulic and sediment transport properties, with the latter’s complexity being a topic of high interest among researchers for the last two centuries. Sediment erosion, transport and deposition heavily impact channel evolution, stability and habitat of river systems, thus the understanding of sediment dynamic is crucial to predicting said characteristics. This is further complicated when introducing cohesive sediments, which in addition to the transport processes of bedload and suspended load driven by grain size and flow conditions, also display increased ramifications due to electrochemical bonding and flocculation. Numerical models are widely used to simulate such processes with satisfying results, relying on empirical transport equations describing erosion, deposition and particle entrainment. However, sediment transport modeling is highly sensitive to sediment properties and choice of transport formula. This study will conduct a sensitivity analysis of sediment parameters and transport formulas in HEC-RAS 1D models using monogranular synthetic bathymetries which entail, long-term simulations simulating deposition and erosion conditions. This is aimed at probing relatively simple modelling of river morpho dynamics that is widely used and might be further implemented in a river digital twin layout at low computational cost.
Year: 2026