A Sediment Concentration Distribution Based on a Revised Prandtl's Mixing Theory

Prandtl's mixing length theory was modified to obtain a power velocity distribution in which the coefficient and the exponent are variable over a range from : $$ A simple suspended-sediment concentration distribution was developed from the modified velocity distribytion : $ With nominal values of $\beta$=1.0, $\kappa$=0.4 and visual accumulation tube values of the fall velocity, the comparison between the theory and field measurements by the USGS on the Rio Grande is fair. Doubling the value of the exponent results in a good comparison. Further researches are needed for choosing the values of $\beta$, $\kappa$, and fall velocity values, and consideration on the effects of large-scale turbulence and secondary flows are necessary for them. In a pragmatic sense, on any gaging sites the close analysis of very detailed measurements can establish its specific coefficient and exponent.