The Sediment Transport Modeling Research Group focuses on the development of state-of-the-art modeling tools for the study of sediment-related problems in hydraulic, agricultural, and environmental engineering. Innovative sediment transport modeling techniques have been developed in the CCHE1D, CCHE2D, and CCHE3D modeling packages.

Research Goals

Review existing sediment transport theory, and test sediment transport formulas using the available experimental and field data;

Develop the state-of-the-art computational modeling techniques, such as the non-equilibrium sediment transport model, semi-coupling and coupling techniques for flow and sediment calculations, integrated modeling of watershed and channel processes, etc.;

Apply the developed modeling tools in real-life engineering, such as TMDL, BMP, erosion and sedimentation control, river restoration, dam construction and decommission, channel navigation management, environment quality enhancement, etc.

Research Activities

The current research interests are focused on the following areas:

Fundamental Research on Sediment Transport

Estimation of Sediment Yield using Integrated Watershed-Channel Models

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Erosion Control Structures

Simulation of General Sediment Transport in Rivers and Reservoirs

Calculation of Channel Widening and Meandering

Modeling of Headcut Migration

Simulation of Local Scour around Hydraulic Structures

Simulation of Morphodynamic Processes in Vegetated Open Channels

Modeling of Salinity and Cohesive Sediment Transport in Estuaries

Researchers

Research Leader
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Weiming Wu

Research Assistant
Mr. Zhuguo He

Software

The CCHE1D model simulates unsteady flow and nonuniform sediment transport in channel networks. The CCHE1D sediment transport model adopts the non-equilibrium approach for the total-load transport. The flow and sediment calculations are decoupled but a coupled procedure is adopted in the sediment module to simultaneously solve the nonuniform sediment transport, bed change and bed material sorting equations. The sediment transport capacity is determined by four formulas, such as Wu et al’s (2000) formula, the SEDTRA module (Garbrecht et al. 1995), the modified Ackers and White’s formula (Proffit and Sutherland, 1983), the modified Engelund and Hansen’s formula (Wu and Vieira, 2000).

The CCHE2D model is a depth-averaged 2D model for flow and sediment transport in rivers. It has two versions based on EEM (Efficient Element Method) and FVM (Finite Volume Method). In both versions of CCHE2D, the nonuniform total-load transport is simulated by using the non-equilibrium approach. The sediment transport capacity is determined by van Rijn’s (1984) formula, Wu et al’s (2000) formula, SEDTRA module (Garbrecht et al., 1995), the modified Ackers and White’s formula (Proffit and Sutherland, 1983), or the modified Engelund and Hansen’s formula (Wu and Vieira, 2000). The effect of secondary flow on the main flow and sediment transport in curved channels has been considered in both versions. The EEM-based version adopts the fully decoupled procedure for flow and sediment transport, while the FVM-based version adopts the semi-coupled procedure similar to that used in CCHE1D model. The FVM-based CCHE2D model is capable of simulating the mophodynamic processes in vegetated open channels, and the salinity and cohesive sediment transport in river estuaries.

The CCHE3D flow model simulates open-channel flows using the hydrostatic pressure assumption or solving the full Navier-Stokes equations. The CCHE3D sediment transport model is capable of computing general channel aggradation and degradation, local scour around hydraulic structures, sediment transport near water intake facilities, etc.

Publications

Weiming Wu, Sam S.Y. Wang, and Yafei Jia (1998). “Incipient Motion and Bed Load Transport for Nonuniform Sediment Mixtures.” Proc., The 3rd International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Cottbus/Berlin, Germany. (on CD-ROM)

Weiming Wu, Sam S.Y. Wang, and Yafei Jia (1998). “A 2-D Non-Equilibrium Approach for Nonuniform Sediment Transport Modeling.” Water Resources Engineering ‘98, Vol. 2, ASCE, Edited by S. R. Abt, J. Young-Pezeshk and C. C. Watson, pp. 1392-1397.

Weiming Wu, and Thomas Wenka (1998), “3D Calculation of Bed Morphology in the Case of Bed Load Transport.” Advances in Hydro-Science and Engineering, Vol. III, Abstract p. 193, University of Mississippi, USA and Brandenburg University of Technology, Germany. (Text on CD Rom)

Weiming Wu, Sam S.Y. Wang, Yafei Jia, and Kerry M. Robinson (1999). “Empirical Analysis of Headcut Migration.” Proc., The 1999 International Water Resources Engineering Conference, Seattle, USA. (on CD-ROM)

Weiming Wu, Sam S.Y. Wang, Yafei Jia, and Kerry M. Robinson (1999). “Numerical Simulation of Two-Dimensional Headcut Migration.” Proc., The 1999 International Water Resources Engineering Conference, Seattle, USA. (on CD-ROM)

Weiming Wu, Dalmo A. Vieira, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2000). “New Capabilities of the CCHE1D Channel Network Model.” Proc., ASCE’s 2000 Joint Conference on Water Resources Engineering and Water Resources Planning and Management, Minneapolis, USA, July 30-August 3. (on CD-ROM)

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (1999). “Movable Bed Roughness in Alluvial Rivers.” J. Hydra. Eng., ASCE, Vol. 125, No.12, pp.1309-1312.

Weiming Wu, Sam S.Y. Wang, and Yafei Jia (2000). “Nonuniform Sediment Transport in Alluvial Rivers.” J. Hydra. Res., IAHR, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp.427-434.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2000). “Mathematical Models for Liquid-Solid Two-Phase Flow.” Int. J. Sediment Research, Vol. 15, No.3, pp.288-298.

Weiming Wu, Wolfgang Rodi, and Thomas Wenka (2000). “3-D Numerical Modeling of Water Flow and Sediment Transport in Open Channels.” J. Hydra. Eng., ASCE, Vol.126, No.1, pp.4-15.

Weiming Wu, Dalmo A. Vieira, Abdul Khan, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2001). “Sensitivity Analysis of the CCHE1D Channel Network Model.” Proc., World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Weiming Wu (2001). “CCHE2D Sediment Transport Model.” Technical Report No. NCCHE-TR-2001-3, National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Mississippi. This report is published on NCCHE webside.

Weiming Wu, and Dalmo A. Vieira (2002). “One-Dimensional Channel Network Model CCHE1D 3.0 -- Technical Manual.” Technical Report No. NCCHE-TR-2002-1, National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Mississippi.

Sam S. Y. Wang, Weiming Wu, Han-Min Hsia, and Chang-Chi Cheng (2002). “Simulation of Flood and Sediment Routing in the Pa-Chang River and the Pu-Tze River of Taiwan using CCHE1D Model.” The Fifth International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Warsaw, Poland.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.-Y. Wang (2002). “CCHE2D Nonuniform Sediment Transport Model.” Proc., 2nd Federal Interagency Hydrology Modeling Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2002). “Prediction of Local Scour of Non-cohesive Sediment around Bridge Piers using FVM-Based CCHE2D Model.” Proc., First Int. Conf. on Scour of Foundations, Texas A&M University.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S. Y. Wang (2003). “Selection and evaluation of nonuniform sediment transport formulas for river modeling.” The XXX IAHR Congress, Thessaloniki, Greece, pp. 831-838. 

Pingyi Wang, Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2003). “Verification of the CCHE1D channel network model using experimental and field data.” Proc., World Water and Environmental Resources Congress 2003, Philadelphia. (on CD-Rom)

Sam S.Y. Wang, Weiming Wu, and Yafei Jia (2003). “Modeling river sedimentation and morphodynamic processes with applications to Mississippi and other rivers.” UNESCO/ICCORES Workshop: From Watershed Slopes to Coastal Areas: Sedimentation Processes at Different Scales, Venice, Italy, December 3-5.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Depth-Averaged Numerical Modeling of Flow and Sediment Transport in Open Channels with Vegetation.” Riparian Vegetation and Fluvial Geomorphology, edited by S.J. Bennett, and A. Simon, AGU.

Weiming Wu, Dalmo A. Vieira, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “A 1-D numerical model for nonuniform sediment transport under unsteady flows in channel networks.” J. Hydra. Eng., ASCE, Vol. 130, No. 3. 

Weiming Wu (2004). “Depth-averaged 2-D numerical modeling of unsteady flow and nonuniform sediment transport in open channels.” J. Hydra. Eng., ASCE, Vol. 130, No. 10. 

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Depth-averaged 2-D calculation of flow and sediment transport in curved channels.” Accepted for publication by International Journal of Sediment Research. 

Enhui Jiang, Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Calculation of flow and sediment transport in the lower yellow river using CCHE2Dfvm model.” Proc., The 2004 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 27-July 1.

Weiming Wu, Honghai Qi, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Depth-averaged 2-D model of tidal flow in estuaries.” Proc., The 2004 World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 27-July 1.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Empirical-numerical analysis of headcut migration.” Proc., 3rd Int. Conf. on Gully Erosion, April 28-May 1, Oxford, MS.

Weiming Wu, Pingyi Wang and Nobuyuki Chiba (2004). “Comparison of five depth-averaged 2-D turbulence models for river flows.” Archives of Hydro-Engineering and Environmental Mechanics, Polish Academy of Science, Volume 51, No. 2, pp. 183-200. 

Weiming Wu, Enhui Jiang, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Depth-averaged 2-D calculation of flow and sediment transport in the Lower Yellow River.” Int. J. River Basin Management, IAHR, Vol. 2, No. 1.

Weiming Wu, and Sam S.Y. Wang (2004). “Depth-averaged 2-D calculation of tidal flow, salinity and cohesive sediment transport in estuaries.” Int. J. Sediment Research, Vol. 19, No. 3. 

Sam S.Y. Wang, and Weiming Wu (2004). “River sedimentation and morphology modeling.” Keynote Lecture, Proc., Ninth Int. Symp. on River Sedimentation, Yichang, China, October 17-21.