Experimental Analysis of the Relationship between Flow Velocities and Sediment Transport in a Laboratory Channel Featuring a Lateral Bifurcation and Sand Bed

Authors

  • Darío Calderón Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios de Ingeniería de los Recursos Hídricos & Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental at Escuela Politécnica Nacional https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2171-5809
  • Khaled Hamad Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios de Ingeniería de los Recursos Hídricos & Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental at Escuela Politécnica Nacional https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9365-9602
  • Jorge Escobar-Ortiz Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios de Ingeniería de los Recursos Hídricos & Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental at Escuela Politécnica Nacional https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3862-1657

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29019/enfoqueute.1150

Keywords:

bifurcation, Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV), sediment transport, open-channel flow

Abstract

This experimental study investigates the relationship between flow velocities and sediment transport in a laboratory flume featuring a 90 ° lateral bifurcation with a mobile sediment bed composed of medium sand (D₅₀ = 1.06 mm). The experiment was conducted at the Center for Research and Studies in Water Resources Engineering of the National Polytechnic School (CIERHI-EPN) using a scaled, fixed-geometry open-channel model under subcritical flow conditions with a constant discharge of 40 l/s. The objective is to establish empirical, experimentally validated correlations between flow structures and sediment dynamics in bifurcated channels. Instantaneous flow velocities were recorded at over 180 points using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV), and topographic measurements of the sediment bed were used to quantify scour and deposition. A total of 43.3 l of sand was scoured (with maximum depth of 15.01 cm), 8.0 l was redeposited (up to 8.49 cm thick), and 35.3 l was transported beyond the mobile bed. Results indicate that flow is predominantly one-dimensional in the upstream channel, while the bifurcation induces complex three-dimensional velocity components (Vₓ, Vᵧ, V𝓏) associated with shear layers, vortex formation, and sediment redistribution. Compared to previous studies that focused on fixed beds or numerical simulations, this research provides high-resolution, experimental evidence of the link between secondary flow structures and sediment transport patterns under mobile-bed conditions. The findings contribute to improved predictive capabilities for morphodynamic behavior in natural bifurcations and support the development of more efficient sediment control and hydraulic design strategies.

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Published

2025-07-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Miscellaneous

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