HYSTERESIS OF BED FORMS DURING CHANGING

STAGE
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this job is to investigate the phenomenon whereby the
characteristics of the bed are out of adjustments with the actual flow when
the flow rate is variable. One theory suggests that this is more likely when
the flow rate is decreasing as a lower energy flow will not easily remove bed
forms produced by a higher energy flow, and thus the bed forms observed at
a given flow rate may depend on whether the flow rate is decreasing after a
high flow event or increasing from slower flow conditions.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
Armfield S8MkII
Ball for measuring velocity
Spatula for putting and compacting sand
Clean sand of uniform size between 0.1 and 0.3 mm

METHOD
In this experiment the flow channel is operated with sediment. The condition
of the bed is observed as the discharge setting and flume slope are
increased and then decreased. The bed forms of the rising and falling limbs
of the flow chart are compared.

EXPERIMENT SETUP

Sand of uniform size between 0.1 and 0.3 mm is placed in the flume to
a uniform depth level with the top of the overspill water.
Sand surface is tamped down so that it is uniformly packed, lightly
compacted and as flat as possible.
The collecting /settling tank is filled with clean water up the full mark

PROCEDURE

The flume slope is set to zero,valves are fully closed and then pump is
switched on at setting I and the flow is allowed to become steady along
the length of the flume .At zero slope there is no bed formation

The experiment is started by tilting the flume in small increments until

there is sufficient slope for mobile ripple bed form to develop
The flow depth and velocity is recorded
The bed forms are observed and described
The discharge is increased to setting II so that sediment transport
becomes more and after some time dunes are formed. At this flow rate
bed forms are observed and recorded.
The valve is opened fully and after some time dunes are grown. At this
stage flow rate and flow depth are recoded.
The pump is then brought to setting III and slope is increased gradually
so that sediment transport becomes more and after some time dunes
are formed. At this flow rate bed forms are observed and recorded.
At each stage readings are taken for 4 slopes from 1% to 2.5%
For last, 3rd stage readings are taken first in ascending slope and then
in descending order.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Flume width =7.5 cm

Sr.N
o

Stag
e

Flum
e
slope
%

Depth
of flow

Time

velocit
y

Discharg
e

sec

m/sec

m3/sec

0.015

1.51

0.33

1.5

0.013

1.15

0.43

0.012

1.09

0.46

0.00038
66
0.00044
09
0.00042
94

2.5

0.01

1.08

0.46

0.00036
11

0.016

2.15

0.23

0.00029
02

1.5

0.015

1.57

0.32

7
8

2
2.5

0.011
0.01

1.22
1.01

0.41
0.50

1
2

0.00037
26
0.00035
26
0.00038
61

Notes on bed form

appearance
Initially in phase and
then out of phase
ripples
In phase ripples and
dunes
Small in phase ripples
no dunes
Small in phase ripples
no dunes and more
erosion of the bed
Out of phase large
dunes
formed
no
ripples
Prominent out of
phase ripples and
dunes
Out of phase ripples
and dunes
Few out of phase at
the start of the

channel and no dunes

at the end of the
flume
9

0.019

1.66

0.30

10

1.5

0.017

1.19

0.42

11

0.014

1.19

0.42

12

2.5

0.012

1.21

0.41

13

0.015

1.80

0.28

14

1.5

0.017

1.53

0.33

15

0.02

1.88

0.27

0.00044
73
0.00055
87
0.00046
01
0.00038
68
0.00032
45
0.00043
24
0.00041
42

In phase dunes
In phase dunes and
ripples
Erosion at the start of
the channel and
ripples at the end of
the flume
In phase dunes and
few ripples
In phase dunes
Out of phase dunes
Out of phase dunes
and ripples

Conclusion
For both the graphs arithmetic and semi log there is difference in
interpolation line(actual line ) and trend line as hysteresis losses are not
assumed in trend line. The error can be calculated as
Error% =

QpQa
100
Qa

=5.7%
Where
Qp=0.00037m3/sec
Qa=0.00035 m3/sec
Hence hysteresis should be considered in sand river bed.