Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of biofilm on turbulence characteristics and the transport of fine sediment

  • Physical and Ecological Aspects of Mobile Sediments
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Biofilm growth changes the sediment properties and the characteristics of the bed, which further influences the interactions between the flow and the sediment bed, such as the turbulence characteristics of the flow and the erosion response of the sediment to hydrodynamic forces. In this study, the effects of biofilm on the turbulence characteristics of the flow and bio-sediment suspension are investigated.

Materials and methods

Cohesive sediments were collected from the bottom of the Three Gorges Reservoir, which have a median size of less than 0.1 mm. Flume experiments were conducted for the erosion of the sediment bed with and without biofilm under the same flow rate. Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV) was used to measure the velocities along the depth, based on which the distribution of Reynolds shear stress, time-average velocity, turbulence intensities, turbulence kinetic energy flux and budgets, and bursting events of the flow were determined. Meanwhile, the biofilm effects on the physical characteristics of sediments, such as the diameter, density, and falling velocity, were summarized from previous studies. Then, the changes of the vertical distribution of suspended sediment concentration and the near-bed concentration were evaluated.

Results and discussion

After biofilm growth, the time-averaged velocity increases by approximately 6.7% under the low flow rate condition with a flat bed, and by more than 20% under the high flow rate condition with a deformed bed. The vertical distribution of the turbulence intensity becomes more uniform under the high flow rate condition. However, the changes of the turbulence kinetic energy flux and budgets due to biofilm are hardly observed by the scattered measurement data, and more experiments need to be conducted in the future.

Conclusions

Biofilm exerts an influence on the turbulence characteristics, mostly by affecting the deformation extent of the sediment bed. Meanwhile, the changes of the physical properties of sediments due to biofilm significantly influence the transport of suspended sediment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andalib M, Zhu J, Nakhla G (2010) Terminal settling velocity and drag coefficient of biofilm-coated particles at high Reynolds numbers. AICHE J 56:2598–2606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao ZJ, Zhang XB, Ai NS (2011) Effect of sediment on concentration of dissolved phosphorus in the Three Gorges Reservoir. Int J Sediment Res 26:87–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao ZX (1997) Turbulent bursting-based sediment entrainment function. J Hydraul Eng 123:233–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Celik I, Rodi W (1988) Modeling suspended sediment transport in nonequilibrium situations. J Hydraul Eng 114:1157–1191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chien N, Wan ZH (1999) Mechanics of sediment transport, ASCE Press

  • Dey S, Das R, Gaudio R, Bose SK (2012) Turbulence in mobile-bed streams. Acta Geophys 60:1547–1588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dey S, Das R (2012) Gravel-bed hydrodynamics: double-averaging approach. J Hydraul Eng 138(8):707–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dey S, Sarkar S, Solari L (2011) Near-bed turbulence characteristics at the entrainment threshold of sediment beds. J Hydraul Eng 137:945–958

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang HW, Wang GQ (2000) Three-dimensional mathematical model of suspended-sediment transport. J Hydraul Eng 126:578–592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang HW, Shang QQ, Chen MH, He GJ (2014) Changes in the critical erosion velocity for sediment colonized by biofilm. Sedimentology 61:648–659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang HW, Fazeli M, Cheng W, Huang L, HY H (2015) Biostabilization and transport of cohesive sediment deposits in the Three Gorges Reservoir. PLoS One 10:e0142673–e0142673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang HW, Fazeli M, Cheng W, Dey S (2016) Transport of biofilm-coated sediment particles. J Hydraul Res 54:631–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang HW, Cheng W, Fazeli M, Dey S (2017) Bedforms and flow resistance of cohesive beds with and without biofilm coating. J Hydraul Eng - ASCE 143:06017010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerbersdorf SU, Wieprecht S (2015) Biostabilization of cohesive sediments: revisiting the role of abiotic conditions, physiology and diversity of microbes, polymeric secretion, and biofilm architecture. Geobiology 13:68–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerbersdorf SU, Jancke T, Westrich B, Paterson DM (2008) Microbial stabilization of riverine sediments by extracellular polymeric substances. Geobiology 6:57–69

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godillot R, Caussade B, Ameziane T, Capblancq J (2001) Interplay between turbulence and periphyton in rough open-channel flow. J Hydraul Res 39:227–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goring DG, Nikora VI (2002) Despiking acoustic doppler velocimeter data. J Hydraul Eng 128(1):117–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graba M, Moulin FY, Boulêtreau S, Garabétian F, Kettab A, Eiff O, Sánchez Pérez JM, Sauvage S (2010) Effect of near-bed turbulence on chronic detachment of epilithic biofilm: experimental and modeling approaches. Water Resour Res 46:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grabowski RC, Droppo IG, Wharton G (2011) Erodibility of cohesive sediment: the importance of sediment properties. Earth-Sci Rev 105:101–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagadorn JW, Mcdowell C (2012) Microbial influence on erosion, grain transport and bedform genesis in sandy substrates under unidirectional flow. Sedimentology 59:795–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kironoto BA, Graf WH (1994) Turbulence characteristics in rough uniform open-channel. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Water Maritime and Energy 106(4):333–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headley JV, Gandrass J, Kuballa J, Peru KM, Gong Y (1998) Rates of sorption and partitioning of contaminants in river biofilm. Environ Sci Technol 32:3968–3973

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Labiod C, Godillot R, Caussade B (2007) The relationship between stream periphyton dynamics and near-bed turbulence in rough open-channel flow. Ecol Model 209:78–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le C, Zha Y, Li Y, Sun D, Lu H, Yin B (2010) Eutrophication of lake waters in China: cost, causes, and control. Environ Manag 45:662–668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Wang Z, He Y, Cheng D (2007) Evaluation of water and sediment qualities at river mouths in the Haihe river system. Int J Sediment Res 22:318–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Luu SS, Willmarth WW (1973) Measurements of the structure of the Reynolds stress in a turbulent boundary layer. J Fluid Mech 60:481–511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malarkey J, Baas JH, Hope JA, Aspden RJ, Parsons DR, Peakall J, Paterson DM, Schindler RJ, Ye L, Lichtman ID, Bass SJ, Davies AG, Manning AJ, Thorne PD (2015) The pervasive role of biological cohesion in bedform development. Nat Commun 6:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • More TT, Yadav J, Yan S, Tyagi RD, Surampalli RY (2014) Extracellular polymeric substances of bacteria and their potential environmental applications. J Environ Manag 144:1–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moulin FY, Peltier Y, Bercovitz Y, Eiff O, Beer A, Pen C, Boulêtreau S, Garabetian F, Sellali M, Sanchez-Perez J, Sauvage S, Baque D (2008) Experimental study of the interaction between a turbulent flow and a river biofilm growing on macrorugosities. Advances in Hydro-science and Engineering, vol. VIII, ICHE-IAHR, Nagoya, Japan, 1887–1896

  • Nezu I, Nakagawa H (1993) Turbulence in open-channel flows. A. A. Balkema, Netherlands, IAHR & AIRH monograph

  • Nezu I, Rodi W (1986) Open-channel flow measurements with a Laser Doppler Anemometer. J Hydraul Eng 112:335–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolella C, van Loosdrecht M, Di Felice R, Rovatti M (1999) Terminal settling velocity and bed-expansion characteristics of biofilm-coated particles. Biotechnol Bioeng 62:62–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikora V, Goring D (2000) Flow turbulence over fixed and weakly mobile gravel beds. J Hydraul Eng-ASCE 126:679–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikora VI, Goring DG, Biggs B (1997) On stream periphyton-turbulence interactions. New Zeal J Mar Fresh 31:435–448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikora VI, Goring DG, Biggs B (2002) Some observations of the effects of micro-organisms growing on the bed of an open channel on the turbulence properties. J Fluid Mech 450:317–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons DR, Schindler RJ, Hope JA, Malarkey J, Baas JH, Peakall J, Manning AJ, Ye L, Simmons S, Paterson DM, Aspden RJ, Bass SJ, Davies AG, Lichtman ID, Thorne PD (2016) The role of biophysical cohesion on subaqueous bed form size. Geophys Res Lett 43:1566–1573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson DM (1989) Short-term changes in the erodibility of intertidal cohesive sediments related to the migratory behavior of epipelic diatoms. Limnol Oceanogr 34:223–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Righetti M, Lucarelli C (2007) May the Shields theory be extended to cohesive and adhesive benthic sediments? J Geophys Res: Oceans (1978–2012) 112:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang QQ, Fang HW, Zhao HM, He GJ, Cui ZH (2014) Biofilm effects on size gradation, drag coefficient and settling velocity of sediment particles. Int J Sediment Res 29:471–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song T, Chiew YM (2001) Turbulence Measurement in Nonuniform Open-Channel Flow Using Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV). J Eng Mech 127(3):219–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone M, Emelko MB, Droppo IG, Silins U (2011) Biostabilization and erodibility of cohesive sediment deposits in wildfire-affected streams. Water Res 45:521–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thom M, Schmidt H, Gerbersdorf SU, Wieprecht S (2015) Seasonal biostabilization and erosion behavior of fluvial biofilms under different hydrodynamic and light conditions. Int J Sediment Res 30:273–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Rijn LC (1984) Sediment transport, part 3: bed forms and alluvial roughness. J Hydraul Eng-ASCE 110:1733–1754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vignaga E (2012) The effect of biofilm colonization on the stability ofnon-cohesive sediments. University of Glasgow. PhD thesis, Glasgow, Scotland

  • Watanabe R, Yamasaki K, Tebakari T, Kusuda T (2008) Experimental study on the effect of biofilm for bed mud erosion in annular flume. Fourth International Conference on Scour and Erosion. Tokyo, Japan

  • Zhao HM (2009) Experiment on particle’s surface morphology after biofilm vegetating. Proc. 33rd IAHR Congress Water Engineering for a Sustainable Environment, Vancouver, Canada, pp 4878–4885

  • Zhao HM, Fang HW, Chen MH (2011) Floc architecture of bioflocculation sediment by ESEM and CLSM. Scanning 33:437–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This investigation was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 91647210) and National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFC0402506).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydro-Science and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Wei Cheng, Hongwei Fang, Haojie Lai & Lei Huang

  2. Beijing Engineering Corporation, POWERCHINA, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100024, China

    Wei Cheng

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India

    Subhasish Dey

Authors
  1. Wei Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hongwei Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Haojie Lai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lei Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Subhasish Dey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongwei Fang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Sabine Ulrike Gerbersdorf

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheng, W., Fang, H., Lai, H. et al. Effects of biofilm on turbulence characteristics and the transport of fine sediment. J Soils Sediments 18, 3055–3069 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1859-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1859-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation