Abstract
Notwithstanding the large number of studies on bedforms such as dunes
and antidunes, performing quantitative predictions of bedform type and
geometry remains an open problem. Here we present the results of
laboratory experiments specifically designed to study how sediment
supply and caliber may impact equilibrium bedform type and geometry in
the upper regime. Experiments were performed in a sediment feed flume
with flow rates varying between 5 l/s and 30 l/s, sand supply rates
varying between 0.6 kg/min and 20 kg/min, uniform and non-uniform
sediment grain sizes with geometric mean diameter varying between 0.22
mm and 0.87 mm. The experimental data and the comparison with datasets
available in the literature revealed that the ratio of the volume
transport of sediment to the volume transport of water
Qs/Qw plays a prime
control on the equilibrium bed configuration. The equilibrium bed
configuration transitions from washed out dunes (lower regime), to
downstream migrating antidunes (upper regime) for
Qs/Qw between 0.0003 and
0.0007. For values of
Qs/Qw greater than those
typical of downstream migrating antidunes, the bedform wavelength
increases with Qs/Qw. At
these high values of Qs/Qw
equilibrium bed configurations with fine sand are characterized by
upstream migrating antidunes or cyclic steps, and significant suspended
load. In experiments with coarse sand, equilibrium is characterized by
plane bed with bedload transport in sheet flow mode. Standing waves form
at the transition between downstream migrating antidunes and bed
configurations with upstream migrating bedforms.