Evaluating Optimal Relationships for Estimating Suspended Sediment Discharge in the Balaroud River

The transport of sediment in rivers is a crucial aspect of hydraulic engineering and environmental management. This study focuses on suspended sediment transport in the Balaroud River, a significant tributary of the Dez River in northern Khuzestan Province, Iran. We evaluated various sediment transport equations, including those by Rouse (۱۹۳۷), Lane & Kalinske (۱۹۴۱), Brooks (۱۹۵۸), Bagnold (۱۹۶۶), and Yang (۱۹۹۶), to determine the most accurate model for estimating suspended sediment load in this river. Data spanning from ۲۰۰۷ to ۲۰۲۰, collected from the Khuzestan Water and Power Authority (KWPA), were analyzed to compare these models against measured sediment loads. The Rouse method proved to be the most reliable, achieving approximately ۸۰% accuracy in estimating suspended sediment load. The modified Yang equation followed with about ۶۰% accuracy, while accuracy for Brooks' method was around ۴۹%. Conversely, the Bagnold (۱۹۶۶) and Lane & Kalinske (۱۹۴۱) models demonstrated significantly lower accuracies of ۲۱% and ۱۲%, respectively. The study reveals that Rouse and Yang equations align better with the Balaroud River's conditions, marked by its sandy substrate and the influence of the Balaroud dam on flow dynamics. The findings underscore critical discrepancies among the evaluated equations and the necessity for case-specific assessments to enhance sediment transport predictions. This research highlights the importance of selecting models tailored to the unique characteristics of each river system for effective sediment management and environmental conservation. Recommendations include prioritizing the Rouse equation for similar rivers and pursuing further research to develop models suited to diverse sediment transport dynamics.

کلیدواژه ها:

Suspended sediment ، Balaroud ، River engineering ، Numerical model ، Sediment Bar