Presentation by Helena van der Vegt (TU Delft) at the Delft3D User Days, during Delft Software Days 2016. Wednesday 2 November 2016, Delft.

1. 1
The effect of sediment transport
mechanism on depositional behaviour
within river delta environments
H. van der Vegt1, J.E.A. Storms1, D. J. R. Walstra1,2, N. C. Howes3, L. Li1
This work was carried out on the Dutch national e-infrastructure with the support of
SURF Foundation
1 Delft University of Technology
2 Deltares
3 Shell Research and Technology

2. 2
Sediment Transport
Bed load : Suspended load
Influence

3. 3
Sediment Transport
Bed load : Suspended load
Influence
Delta stratigraphy and morphology

4. 4
Delta depositional patters
• Morphology
• Stratigraphy
Orton and Reading 1993

5. 5
Sediment Supply
Composition
• Cohesivity
• Grain size
distribution
Hydrodynamics
• Fluvial input
• Tidal conditions
• Wave Activity
Delta depositional patters
• Morphology
• Stratigraphy
Orton and Reading 1993

6. 6
Sediment Supply
Composition
• Cohesivity
• Grain size
distribution
Hydrodynamics
• Fluvial input
• Tidal conditions
• Wave Activity
Delta depositional patters
• Morphology
• Stratigraphy
Orton and Reading 1993

7. 7
Delta depositional patters
• Morphology
• Stratigraphy
Geleynseet.al2011
Sediment Supply
Composition
• Cohesivity
• Grain size
distribution
Hydrodynamics
• Fluvial input
• Tidal conditions
• Wave Activity

8. 8
Sediment Transport
Delta depositional patters
• Morphology
• Stratigraphy
Sediment Supply
Composition
• Cohesivity
• Grain size
distribution
Hydrodynamics
• Fluvial input
• Tidal conditions
• Wave Activity

9. 9
Q
Cohesive
material
(Silt,Clay)
Non-cohesive
material
(Sand,gravel)
SuspendedloadBedload
Sediment
Transport
Cohesivity

10. 10
Q
Cohesive
material
(Silt,Clay)
Non-cohesive
material
(Sand,gravel)
SuspendedloadBedload
Field and experimental
measurements available
Measurement difficult and rare.
Values usually approximated
Sediment
Transport
Cohesivity

11. 11
5 km
5km
1.1 1.2 1.3
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4
Increase bed loadIncreasenon-cohesivesupply

12. 12
Sediment Transport
Bed load : Suspended load
Influence
Delta stratigraphy and morphology

13. 13
Similar channel dynamics in non-cohesive and bed-
load driven systems
1. Deltaic sediment body can originate from a
non-unique sequence of depositional controls
and events.

14. 14
1.1 1.2 1.3
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4
74% 73% 64%
76%
68% 62% 61%
59%61%65%
72%
73%
62% 61% 57%
Mean channel depth:
2.41m 2.78m 1.69m
2.99m 2.00m 1.59m 1.4m
2.02m 1.54m 1.44m 1.37m
1.02m 0.64m 0.56m 0.51m
Increase bed loadIncreasenon-cohesivesupply

15. 15
5 km
5km
1.1 1.2 1.3
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4
Increase bed loadIncreasenon-cohesivesupply

16. 16
Sediment Transport
Bed load : Suspended load
Influence
Delta stratigraphy and morphology

17. 17
2. Channel kinematics control proximal, but
not distal deposition

18. 18

19. 19
3. Allogenic vs. Autogenic control
(Panther Tongue from A. Forzoni et. al., 2015)

20. 20
(Muto et. Al. 2007)
(Panther Tongue from A. Forzoni et. al., 2015)
Large scale autogenic: Risk misinterpretation allogenic

21. 21
5 km
5km
1.1 1.2 1.3
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4
Increase bed loadIncreasenon-cohesivesupply

22. 22

23. 23
Large scale autogenic: Risk misinterpretation allogenic
Increased risk: suspended load or cohesive
systems
(Panther Tongue from A. Forzoni et. al., 2015)

24. 24
Sediment Transport
Bed load : Suspended load
Influence
1. Deltaic sediment body can originate from a non-
unique sequence of depositional controls and
events.
2. Channel kinematics control proximal, but not
distal deposition
3. Autogenic misinterpretation as allogenic larger
risk in suspended load and cohesive systems

25. 25
Helena van der Vegt
TU Delft / Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Department of Geoscience and Engineering
E h.vandervegt@tudelft.nl