Bed-Load Modelling and Evaluation of Step Length

Abstract

The step length often plays an important role in fluvial processes. In this study, two types of motion, sliding and saltation, are employed as models of bed-load motion to evaluate the step, and a common framework to describe the step length is presented based on the two models. An application of equations of motion islimited to the individual microsteps, a succession of which forms a step length, and the succession of the microsteps is subjected to the irregularities of sand beds. Thus, the framework is synthesized in a stochastic manner, but the constituent parts are described deterministically. The present study makes it possible to estimate the mean step length and reveals the applicable ranges of the respective models of bed-load motion.