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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/22887| Title: | Evaluation of the use of a bedleveler to improve navigability of Atchafalaya River Bar Channel fluid mud |
| Authors: | Tubman, Michael W. (Michael Wright), 1951- Welp, Timothy L. Sullivan, Michael D. Colombo, Christopher L. |
| Keywords: | Atchafalaya River (La.) Barges Bed leveler Channels (Hydraulic engineering) Deep draft vessel Dredging Fluid mud Hydrographic surveying Mud--Density--Measurement Nautical depth Nautical bottom Navigation River sediment Sediment conditioning |
| Publisher: | Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) |
| Series/Report no.: | Technical Report (Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)) ; no. ERDC/CHL TR-17-14 |
| Abstract: | Abstract: Between routine navigation dredging operations, the Atchafalaya River Bar Channel (ABC) traps fluid mud, which begins to consolidate. The consolidated mud can begin to block the passage of vessels using the Port of Morgan City, LA. If the mud densities and yield stresses could be kept sufficiently low so that vessels could safely navigate through it, the length of time between navigation dredging could potentially be increased. To demonstrate the feasibility of dragging a large object through the mud to condition the sediments, a bedleveler was constructed and suspended below a barge at depths that penetrated the interface between the water and the fluid mud in the channel (i.e., the lutocline). The barge was towed along the ABC parallel to its axis, thereby dragging the bedleveler through the fluid mud on the channel bottom. It was found that dragging the bedleveler along the channel seemed to have no effect, or an extremely limited effect, over a short duration on the densities. It cannot be ruled out that the bedleveler operations had an effect on yield stresses, but the measured decreases were so inconsistent that naturally occurring changes or other factors had a larger effect. |
| Description: | Technical Report |
| Gov't Doc #: | ERDC/CHL TR-17-14 |
| Rights: | Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11681/22887 http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/22887 |
| Size: | 60 pages / 22.84 Mb |
| Types of Materials: | |
| Appears in Collections: | Technical Report |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERDC-CHL TR-17-14.pdf | 23.39 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |