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Adaption of a formula for simulating bedload transport in the Nile River, Egypt

  • Sediments, Sec 3 • Hillslope and River Basin Sediment Dynamics • Research Article
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A Correction to this article was published on 08 August 2022

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Abstract

Purpose

Bedload transport discharge is important in river engineering and morphodynamics. The Meyer-Peter and Müller (MPM) equation for determining bedload transport rates that was introduced in 1948 is still widely used in basic and applied engineering practise. An employment of the MPM equation for sand bed rivers is rarely observed as it usually performs well for gravel-bed rivers. The MPM equation was improved by introducing a correction factor considering the effects of the bedform and sediment mixture.

Materials and methods

Field measurements of bedload transport rates at 64 cross sections of different sites along the Nile River in Egypt were collected and employed to enhance the prediction of bedload transport rates based on the MPM formula. Furthermore, independent laboratory experiments were executed in a straight sand bed flume to verify the modified form of the MPM equation and to extend its application range.

Results and discussion

The MPM equation was improved by introducing a correction factor considering the effects of the bedform and sediment mixture. The accuracy of several sediment transport formulas (Meyer-Peter and Müller 1948; Frijlink 1952; Wong and Parker J Hydraul Eng 132:1159–1168, 2006; van Rijn 1984; modified Abdel-Fattah 2004; Huang Water Resour Res 46 W09533, 2010) was also evaluated using cumulative field measurements. Results suggest that the modified MPM equation is more suitable for the Nile River conditions than are the other tested equations.

Conclusions

The study results indicate that the modified MPM equation can predict the bedload transport rates under the Nile River conditions with high accuracy.

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Change history

Abbreviations

λ a, λ b, η, and ξ :

correction factors

B :

river width (m)

C :

overall Chezy coefficient (m0.5 s−1)

C′ :

grain-related Chezy coefficient (m0.5 s−1)

d 10 :

size at which 10% by weight is finer (m)

d 35 :

size at which 35% by weight is finer (m)

d 50 :

size at which 50% by weight is finer (m)

d 90 :

size at which 90% by weight is finer (m)

d m :

arithmetic mean diameter of the sediment (m)

D * :

dimensionless particle diameter (–)

g :

gravitational acceleration (m s−2)

k s :

effective bed roughness (m)

q b :

bedload transport rate (g m−1 s−1)

R b :

hydraulic radius of the bed region (m)

R h :

hydraulic radius (m)

S :

energy gradient (–)

s :

relative density (–)

T :

dimensionless transport stage parameter (–)

u :

mean flow velocity (m s−1)

u * :

the bed shear velocity (m s−1)

y :

flow depth (m)

ϕ :

dimensionless bedload transport rate (–)

θ :

Shields parameter (–)

θ cr :

critical mobility parameter

ρ s :

sediment density (kg m−3)

ρ :

water density (kg m−3)

σ g :

standard deviation of sediment mixture (–)

τ o :

bed shear stress (N m−2)

μ :

bedform factor or efficiency factor

τ o′:

effective bed shear stress (N m−2)

τ cr :

critical bed shear stress according to Shields (N m−2)

ν :

kinematic viscosity (m2 s−1)

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the Hydraulics Research Institute staff for their collaboration and facilitating the field measurements data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Benha Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Fahmy Salah Abdelhaleem

  2. Hydraulics Research Institute (HRI), National Water Research Center (NWRC), Cairo, Egypt

    Ahmed Mostafa Amin & Heba Fathy Ibraheem

  3. Benha Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Mohamed Elsayed Basiouny

Authors
  1. Fahmy Salah Abdelhaleem
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  2. Ahmed Mostafa Amin
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  3. Mohamed Elsayed Basiouny
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  4. Heba Fathy Ibraheem
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Correspondence to Fahmy Salah Abdelhaleem.

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Abdelhaleem, F.S., Amin, A.M., Basiouny, M.E. et al. Adaption of a formula for simulating bedload transport in the Nile River, Egypt. J Soils Sediments 20, 1742–1753 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02528-8

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