Study of sediment flocculation in tidal flat of Huanghe River Estuary

Based on the field data of floc size, suspended sediment concentration and hydrodynamic data, the flocculation characteristics of tidal flat in the south of the Huanghe River Estuary are studied. The results show that the floc size of Huanghe River Estuary tidal flat range is 25.42-264.44 цт, and the average diameter is 95.20 цт. The effect of water turbulence on the flocculation of tidal flat at the Huanghe River Estuary is different, and the upper limit of turbulence on flocculation promotion is about Gl=3.76 s^-1. While the turbulence intensity of water is lower than G_l, turbulence promotes sediment flocculation, and the particle size of floc increases with the strengthen of turbulence intensity, whereas the turbulence mainly inhibits flocculation, the particle size of floc decreases with the attenuate of turbulence intensity. The suspended sediment concentration inhibits the flocculation, particle size of floc corresponding to high sediment content under the same turbulent conditions is smaller. There is a negative correlation between the effective density and the particle size of the floc, and the settling speed of the floc is mainly affected by the particle size. This study complements the understanding of sediment flocculation characteristics in tidal flat of weak tidal estuary.