Flow Regime and Sedimentary Structures

An Introduction To Physical Processes of Sedimentation

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Bed Response to Water (fluid) Flow

Common bed forms (shape of the unconsolidated bed) due to fluid flow in
Unidirectional (one direction) flow Bi-directional (oscillatory) Combined Flow
Hummocks and swales
2D&3D ripples and dunes

Flow transverse, asymmetric bed forms

Straight crested symmetric ripples

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Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

Hydrodynamic variables

Grain Size Flow Depth Flow velocity

| Most Important |--> Variables in Natural Fluid Flow | Systems

Fluid Viscosity Fluid Density Particle Density

g (gravity)

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 FLOW REGIME CONCEPT

Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

Consider variation in: Flow Velocity only

Flume Experiments (med sand & 20 cm flow depth)

A particular flow velocity (after critical velocity of entrainment) produces a particular bed configuration (Bed form) which in turn produces a particular internal sedimentary structure.

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Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

Consider Variation in Grain Size & Flow Velocity
for sand <~0.2mm: for sand ~0.2 to 0.8mm for sand > 0.8: No Dunes Idealized Flow Regime Sequence of Bed forms No ripples nor lower plane bed

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Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

Lower Flow Regime
No Movement: flow velocity below critical entrainment velocity Ripples: straight crested (2d) to sinuous and linguoid crested (3d) ripples (< ~1m) with increasing flow velocity Dunes: (2d) sand waves with straight crests to (3d) dunes (>~1.5m) with sinuous crests and troughs

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 Flow separation and planar vs. tangential fore sets

Dynamics of Flow Transverse Sedimentary Structures

Increased flow velocity/decrease in grain size produces greater flow separation and more vertical accretion bedding component in turbulent flows Lateral Accretion from bed load Vertical Accretion from suspended load
tangential to draped stratification angle of repose, fore-set bedding

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 Lower Flow Regime

Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

No Movement: flow velocity below critical entrainment velocity Ripples: straight crested (2d) to sinuous and linguoid crested (3d) ripples (< ~1m) with increasing flow velocity Dunes: (2d) sand waves with straight crests to (3d) dunes (>~1.5m) with sinuous crests and troughs

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 Flow separation and planar vs. tangential fore sets

Due to flow velocity variation

Dynamics of Flow Transverse Sedimentary Structures

Aggradation (lateral and vertical) and Erosion in space and time Capacity (how much sediment in transport) variation Competence (largest size particle in transport) variation Angle of climb and the extent of bed form preservation (erosion vs. aggradation-dominated bedding surface)

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Climbing Ripples
Angle of climb and decreasing flow capacity (downwards on figure)

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 Lower Flow Regime

Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

No Movement: flow velocity below critical entrainment velocity Ripples: straight crested (2d) to sinuous and linguoid crested (3d) ripples (< ~1m) with increasing flow velocity Dunes: (2d) sand waves with straight crests to (3d) dunes (>~1.5m) with sinuous crests and troughs

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 Lower Flow Regime

Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

No Movement: flow velocity below critical entrainment velocity Ripples: straight crested (2d) to sinuous and linguoid crested (3d) ripples (< ~1m) with increasing flow velocity Dunes: (2d) sand waves with straight crests to (3d) dunes (>~1.5m) with sinuous crests and troughs

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Bed Response to Steady-state, Unidirectional, Water Flow

Upper Flow Regime
Flat Beds: particles move continuously with no relief on the bed surface Antidunes: low relief bed forms with constant grain motion; bed form moves up- or down-current (laminations dip upstream)

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Flow regime Concept (summary)

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Application of Flow Regime Concept to Other Flow Types

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Application of Flow Regime Concept to Other Flow Types

Deposits formed by turbulent sediment gravity flow mechanism turbidites Decreasing flow regime in concert with grain size decrease

Indicates decreasing flow velocity through time during deposition

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Sediment Gravity Flow Mechanisms

Sediment Gravity Flows:
20%-70% suspended sediment High density/viscosity fluids

suspended sediment charged fluid within a lower density, ambient fluid mass of suspended particles results in the potential energy for initiation of flow in a the lower density fluid (clear water or air)

mgh = PE

M = mass G = force of gravity H = height PE= Potential energy

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Distinction of Sediment Gravity Flow Mechanisms otbo

Fluid Flow and Grain Support Mechanisms
Newtonian Fluids (fluidal flows) Plastics with a yield stress, or finite strength
turbidity currents; grain support turbulence

High concentration sediment gravity flows: debris flows; grain support fluid strength & buoyancy

X X
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Sediment Gravity Flows

Not distinct in nature Different properties within different portions of a flow
Leading edge of a debris flow triggered by heavy rain crashes down the Jiangjia Gully in China. The flow front is about 5 m tall. Such debris flows are common here because there is plenty of easily erodible rock and sediment upstream and intense rainstorms are common during the summer monsoon season.

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Fluidal Flows
Turbidity Currents
Re (Reynolds #) is large due to (relatively) low viscosity turbulence is the grain support mechanism initial scour due to turbulent entrainment of unconsolidated substrate at high current velocity
Scour base is common

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Fluidal Flows
Turbidity Currents
deposition from bedload & suspended load when Fi>Fm (Fm = mobility forces; Fi = grain inertia) initial deposits are coarsest transported particles deposited (ideally) under upper (plane bed) flow regime

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Fluidal Flows
Turbidity Currents
as flow velocity decreases (due to loss of minimum mgh) finer particles are deposited under lower flow regime conditions final deposition occurs under suspension settling mode with hemipelagic layers
high sediment concentration commonly results in climbing ripples

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Fluidal Flows
The final (idealized) deposit: Turbidite
graded in particle size with regular vertical transition in sedimentary structures

Bouma Sequence and facies tract in a submarine fan depositional environment

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High Concentration Sediment Gravity Flows

Grain Support
Matrix strength (yield stress) Matrix density causing grain buoyancy in excess of clear water fluids

Laminar flow mechanisms due to very high fluid viscosity (Re is low) Occur in both subaqueous (clear water is ambient fluid) and air Cessation of flow is by "freezing" (gravity stress < yield stress)

XX
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High Concentration Sediment Gravity Flows

Indicate generally unstable slopes (moderate to high relief) Internal sedimentary structures
little scour at base very poor sorting, massive bedding large particle sizes may be transported, matrix support inverse to symmetric size grading clast alignment parallel to flow surface

X
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Debrites

Debris flow deposits

See TurbiditesTurbidity current deposits

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