An experimental study on erodibility of intertidal sediments in the Yellow River delta

• Published in: International journal of sediment research Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 240 - 249
• Main Authors: MENG, Xiang-mei, JIA, Yong-gang, SHAN, Hong-xian, YANG, Zhong-nian, ZHENG, Jie-wen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2012; Key Laboratory of Marine Environment & Ecology, Ministry of Education(Ocean University of China)Qingdao 266100, China%Key Laboratory of Marine Environment & Ecology, Ministry of Education(Ocean University of China)Qingdao 266100, China; First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 26606 1, China,and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment & Ecology, Ministry of Education(Ocean University of China),Qingdao 266100, China
• Subjects: Correlation; Deltas; Erodibility; Erosion; Flume experiment; Intertidal sediments; Rivers; Sand; Sediments; Shear strength; Tidal flats; Yellow River delta; 可蚀性; 实验; 宾夕法尼亚州; 正相关关系; 海岸侵蚀; 潮间带; 表层沉积物; 黄河三角洲地区; China, People's Rep., Huang He R; Yellow River delta; Erodibility; Flume experiment; Intertidal sediments
• ISSN: 1001-6279
• DOI: 10.1016/S1001-6279(12)60032-8

The erodibility of intertidal sediments is an important factor affecting coastal erosion. In July and October 2008, in situ measurement of erodibility of the surficial sediment were conducted using a recirculating flume at 20 tidal fiat experiment sites along the seashore of the Yellow River delta. At the same time, the characteristics of sand ripples and biogenic features on the tidal flat were observed and the physical-mechanical sediment properties such as bulk density, water content, grain size distribution, plasticity, penetration resistance, shear strength and compressibility, were measured. By field measurement, it is obtained that the critical erosion shear stress of the surficial sediment on the tidal fiat varies between 0.088 Pa and 0.254 Pa. The factors influencing sediment erodibility are complicated because of physical and biological reworking after the sediment deposited. There＇s a positive correlation between shear strength and critical erosion shear stress. The burrowing crabs＇ activities changed the sediment microtopography and made the sediment have greater roughness, and that is one possible reason for the higher erodibility. The formation of scour pits on the tidal flat correlates with the heterogeneous erodibility of the surficial sediment.