Mathematical model of heterogeneous particle transport in aquatic environments /
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| Other Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1991.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | A flocculent particle transport model was developed to aid in the assessment of particle mediated transport of pollutants in aquatic environments. The model included flocculation driven by binary inter-particle collisions and aggregate breakup driven by particle erosion. A framework was developed in conjunction with the predictive model to synthesize experimental data into the unknown model parameters. The basis of the method lies in the minimization of the variation between model predictions and observations via the iterative numerical determination of the functional minima of a residual function with respect to the parameters being determined. Model parameters have been estimated successfully for analytical and numerical solutions to dispersive, advective - dispersive and flocculent particle transport model equations. The effect of sampling or measurement error and initial parameter estimates on algorithm performance has been evaluated. This approach has been successfully applied to determine data requirements and constraints (quantity, quality and location) for measurement of hydrodynamic and transport characteristics of dye clouds and cohesive aquatic particles in laboratory mixed settling columns. A sensitivity analysis on limited particle size category resolution indicates that particle water column residence times may be significantly overestimated using distributions of less than 8 categories. A computer automated mixed settling column, designed to characterize the vertical transport of suspended particulate material in turbulent aquatic environments, was constructed to verify and calibrate the flocculent transport model within the parameter estimation framework. Dye studies were conducted for hydrodynamic characterization of the column. Continuous transmissometer data taken at various depths in the column were used to extract dispersion coefficients from the dispersive transport model coupled to the parameter estimation framework. Non-flocculent silica particles between 0.5 and 40μm in diameter were used for advection dominant transport studies and column verification. Particle transport studies were conducted on flocculent estuarine sediment particles ranging from 2 to 50μm in diameter. The model was calibrated using time series particle size distributions extracted from samples taken from the column at different depths and times. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Civil Engineering." |
| Physical Description: | xvi, 172 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |