Investigation of erosion rates of field samples using FDOT's enhanced sediment erosion rate flume (SERF).
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2013-09-01
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Abstract:The first part of this project was to enhance and improve the Florida Department of Transportation’s
Sediment Erosion Rate Flume (SERF) device. Notable improvements include a pump repair, laser
system enhancement, installation of a digital video camera, an updated graphical user interface, a
rebuilt pump drive, and a large-capacity filter. Additionally, attempts were made to install a sand
injection system in the SERF, although these efforts proved unsuccessful. A computational model of
the SERF was prepared using CD-adapco’s Star-CCM+. Results appeared to indicate that a
conservative, smooth-wall approximation must be used to estimate shear stress when testing
sediment samples in the SERF. Using these new shear stress approximation guidelines, a series of
erosion tests was conducted on several sediment specimens. Results appeared to show that field
specimens exhibit layering during testing. Three distinct layering events were observed and
described. Results also appear to show that in addition to depth-layering, erosion functions may be
governed by spatial variability. Future sampling guidelines were developed based upon these
results. Finally, a dataset from the Rotating Erosion Testing Apparatus (RETA) was re-analyzed.
Results appear to show a preliminary correlation between erosion rate and rock cohesion. Lastly, a
new operating manual was written for the SERF device.
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