title: 3D CFD simulations of trailing suction hopper dredger plume mixing: a parameter study of near-field conditions influencing the suspended sediment source flux.
abstract: Frequency, duration and intensity of stresses like turbidity and sedimentation caused by dredging must be known to determine the environmental impact of dredging projects. These stresses depend on the amount of sediment spill from a dredger and on how much of this spill still is in suspension near environmentally sensitive areas. Near-field mixing close to a dredger influences the deposition behaviour of the sediment spill. This is investigated systematically with computational fluid dynamics simulations for 136 different conditions of trailing suction hopper dredger overflow sediment plume mixing. Most important influences are found for the ambient depth and the crossflow velocity (vector sum of the dredging speed and the ambient velocity), which can result in a completely different suspended sediment source flux behind the dredger. The simulation results are translated into mathematical relations to predict the suspended sediment source flux without computational effort.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dredging Engineering, Faculty 3mE, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands; Svasek Hydraulics, Schiehaven 13g, 3024 EC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: L.deWit@TUDelft.nl.
authors.forename: Lynyrd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.affiliation: Section of Dredging Engineering, Faculty 3mE, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: A.M.Talmon@TUDelft.nl.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Talmon
authors.affiliation: Section of Dredging Engineering, Faculty 3mE, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: C.vanRhee@TUDelft.nl.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Rhee
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004777:Environment; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008386:Marine Biology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013396:Suction
keywords: Dredging; Environmental impact; Sediment source flux; Turbidity; Turbulent plume mixing