Fractal Dimension of Aggregated Sediments

by H. S. Kim, Florida Atlantic Univ, Boca Raton, United States,
P. D. Scarlatos, Florida Atlantic Univ, Boca Raton, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

Cohesive sediment dynamics in estuarine systems are strongly affected by particle aggregation and flocculation. These processes are mainly controlled by the Brownian motion, flow turbulence and shear, and the gravitational field. Estimation of the geometric characteristics of aggregates/flocs is important for the assessment of pollutant exchange between water and sediments. This paper studies the processes of aggregation/flocculation in the zones of mobile and stationary suspensions. The study incorporates the effects of Brownian motion and gravity under shear-free conditions and estimates the flocculent size and shape. By using the maximum Feret's diameter and the Minkowski's sausage logic the fractal dimension of the flocs is estimated and compared with the data from other studies.

Subject Headings: Water pollution | Sediment transport | Sediment | Turbulent flow | Shear flow | Fractals | Flocculation

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