Assessing Predictive Capability of Selected Bed Load Equations Using Experimental and Flume Data

Abstract Bed load transport in alluvial rivers is the principle link between river hydraulics and river form and is responsible for building and maintaining the channel geometry. Bed load prediction is of primary importance for river engineering, fluvial geomorphology, ecohydrology, environmental surveys & management and hazard prediction. In this study, for bed load transport analysis data sets and experimental data were used. The data sets of Casey, Graf & Suszka, HPY, Mavis, Paintal and MPM were used to compute bed load transport. Experimental work was carried out in advanced hydraulic laboratory in Civil Engineering Department. The bed load was measured for three mixtures. The measured bed load was compared with computed bed load using MPM, Einstein, Soulsby, Van Rijn, Parker, Ashmore and Wong & Parker approaches. The analysis of measured and computed bed load is in good agreement for MPM, Ashmore & Soulsby. At the same time for MPM data set the measured and predicted bed load is in good agreement. For all data sets and experimentally measured bed load Van Rijn approach under predicts the bed load.