Comparison between channel bed scour and head cut erosion rates

Abstract EN

Concentrated-flow erosion is often a major part of cropland erosion.

The concentrated-flow processes of bed scour and head cut need improved characterization to predict and prevent erosion more accurately.

This study was conducted to compare the erosion rates due to simulated bed scour (Db) and head cut (Dh) processes.

Hydraulic flume was used to simulate concentrated flow erosion using five different soils.

For slopes of 1.50, 3.50, and 5.0 %, flow rates of 3.78, 5.67, 7.65, 11.34, and 15.12 L/min were used to provide a shear stress (τ) ranged from low value of (0.50Pa) to a moderate value of (2.50 Pa).

Soil detachment rates are functions of slope, flow rate, and shear stress.

Slope, flow rate, their squares, and the product of slope by flow interaction were highly significant predictors of the bed scour Db.

Only the square of flow, and its interaction with slope were significant predictors of head cut Dh.

Nonlinear power regressions using the shear stress (τ) as an independent variable were better predictors of detachment than simple linear