Linking the explicit probability of entrainment of instrumented particles to flow hydrodynamics

AlObaidi, K. and Valyrakis, M. (2021) Linking the explicit probability of entrainment of instrumented particles to flow hydrodynamics. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 46(12), pp. 2448-2465. (doi: 10.1002/esp.5188)

Abstract

Obtaining a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of the interaction of turbulent flows and the bed surface that contains them, leading to the transport of coarse particles in fluvial, coastal, and aeolian environments, is considered as one of the fundamental objectives and the most complex problems in Earth surface dynamics and engineering. Recent technological advancements have made it possible to directly assess sediment entrainment rather than monitoring surrogate flow metrics, which could be related indirectly to sediment entrainment. In this work, a novel and low-cost instrumented particle, 7cm in diameter, is used to directly assess the incipient entrainment of a coarse particle resting on a bed surface. The particle has inertial measurement units (IMUs) embedded within its waterproof shell, enabling it to track the particle's motions and quantify its inertial dynamics. The sensors of the instrumented particle are calibrated using simple and easy to validate theoretically physical motions to estimate the uncertainties in their readings, which are reduced using an inertial sensor fusion process. A series of well-designed laboratory flume incipient motion experiments are performed. A series of well-designed laboratory flume experiments are performed to assess the entrainment of the instrumented particle for a range of flowrates near the threshold of motion. The readings of the instrumented particle are used to derive metrics that are related to the probability of its incipient entrainment. The flow velocity measurements are obtained for the experiment runs, and the derived metrics are explicitly linked to the flow hydrodynamics responsible for the entrainment. The framework presented in this work can be used for a range of similar applications of low-cost instrumented particles, spanning the interface of sensing and instrumentation in engineering (i.e., infrastructure and environmental monitoring) and geosciences (e.g., habitat assessment).

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research has been supported by the Royal Society (Research Grant RG2015 R1 68793/1), the Royal Society of Edinburgh (Crucible Award), and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (project 7066215).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Valyrakis, Dr Manousos and Al-Obaidi, Mr Khaldoon

Creator Roles

Valyrakis, M.: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Supervision, Writing – review and editing
AlObaidi, K.: Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: AlObaidi, K., and Valyrakis, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• Journal Name: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0197-9337
• ISSN (Online): 1096-9837
• Published Online: 05 July 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 46(12): 2448-2465
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
• Data DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.14154170