Experiments on the erosion rate in a mixture of incoherent and cohesive sediments

The erosion of mixtures of cohesive and incoherent sediments still constitutes an open problem. Many variables affect the erosion rate and, therefore, mathematical modeling is quite difficult, so that experimental evidence is necessary. Original laboratory results are presented and commented on for a mixture of sand, silt and a small amount of clay. The eroded surfaces were acquired with a 3D Laser Scanner and the time evolutions of the eroded volume and the cumulated volumetric erosion rate were studied, showing different kinds of behavior. The influence of bed slope and discharge was also observed.