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INSTRUCTOR: 
F. Douglas Shields, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., BC.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE

Purpose and Background

Sediment transport computations for open channels are frequently required in engineering projects for planning or design. Computations are greatly facilitated by spreadsheets or software packages (e.g., HEC-RAS) with built-in sediment transport algorithms, but the underlying science is complex and often intimidating. This webinar will provide an introduction or quick review of the most fundamental aspects of sediment transport used by engineers and scientists. The principles discussed here will facilitate interpretation of sediment monitoring data and selection of sediment transport formulas. Normal ranges of temporal and spatial variation in sediment properties and loads and the limitations of the current state of science will be emphasized.

Primary Discussion Topics

• Sediment characteristics
• Sizes - classification, measurement, statistical distributions
• Shape, specific weight, friction angle, cohesion
• Sources of sediment found in stream channels
• Sediment transport modes
• Size effects on transport
• Cohesive sediment transport
• Computing sediment loads or concentrations
• Selection of sediment transport relations for bed material concentration and discharge rate
• Types of sediment transport models
• Sediment transport through vegetation

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Classify fluvial sediments based on size
• Identify the main modes of sediment movement in streams
• Relate likely transport mode to sediment size
• Relate size to likely sources of sediment found in stream channels
• Recognize typical annual erosion rates from various sources
• Explain typical temporal variations in sediment transport
• Perform basic computations to determine bed material sediment discharge rates or concentrations
• Identify empirical formulas for total sediment load
• Explain the basic facts needed to work with sediment transport data and to perform elementary sediment transport computations
• Explain fundamentals covered in advanced undergraduate or basic graduate courses in movable bed hydraulics and fluvial geomorphology
• Discuss real world examples and data sets
• Evaluate sediment transport data sets

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Who Should Attend?

• Environmental and hydraulic engineers
• Water resources engineers
• Hydrologists
• Planners and project managers
• Biologists and ecologists
• Geomorphologists
• Affiliated geologists

Outline

• Sediment characteristics
• Sediment sources
• Sediment movement
• Sediment size effects on transport
• Computing sediment loads or concentrations

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs

This online course is worth 0.2 CEUs /2 PDH. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test online and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 30 days.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]