Equilibrium sediment transport by dilute turbidity currents: Comparison of competence?based and capacity?based models

Equilibrium sediment transport is the condition of zero net entrainment and deposition by sediment-transporting flow (i.e. grade or regime). Here criteria for equilibrium transport, those used as proxies (for example, onset erosion, particle setting suppression turbulence) dilute, suspended-load-dominated, turbidity currents, are tested against laboratory natural data. The examined restricted to describing over a bed loose particulate material involving non-cohesive sediment. Models include both monodisperse polydisperse formulations that represent non-uniformity using single characteristic grain size discretization grain-size distribution, respectively. Analysis shows polydisperse-type flux-balance model, equates erosional depositional fluxes where erosion related power lift mass from (the ‘Flow-Power Flux-Balance’ model) provides predictions most consistent with observational Other models tested, polydisperse, fail predict realistic slopes and/or durations concentrations, velocities depths within limits flows. Results Flow-Power Flux-Balance model quantify fields, Shields numbers currents variable properties.