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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400916

Research Project: Science and Technologies for Improving Soil and Water Resources in Agricultural Watersheds

Location: Watershed Physical Processes Research

Title: A new approach for testing soil erodibility parameters in the excess shear stress equation

Author
item Ursic, Michael - Mick
item Langendoen, Eddy
item Wells, Robert - Rob
item SMITH, ANTONIA - Former ARS Employee

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2023
Publication Date: 6/24/2023
Citation: Ursic, M.E., Langendoen, E.J., Wells, R.R., Smith, A. 2023. A new approach for testing soil erodibility parameters in the excess shear stress equation. In Abstract Book of HMEM 2023, Ft. Collins, CO, June 24-29, 2023.

Interpretive Summary: ABSTRACT ONLY

Technical Abstract: Measurement of erodibility and critical shear stress of cohesive soils remains problematic due to limitations of current methods (e.g., borehole erosion test, erosion function apparatus, jet erosion test, or pinhole erosion test) used and lack of confidence in any one method. Current methods are limited by complex flow fields, which do not represent natural conditions, lack of understanding thereof, lack of measurability, or intrusion of the sample into a given flow field which inherently disrupts the flow causing discontinuities over the sample surface area. To resolve these limitations a new instrument or test configuration is proposed which utilizes a simplified flow field, induced by a sluice gate, parallel to and over a soil bed or soil sample. The proposed test removes the limitations mentioned above by applying a measurable flow field which corresponds to naturally occurring flow. Additionally, the erosion progression can be measured with the use of acoustic instrumentation or particle image velocimetry removing uncertainties associated with human error or judgment. Preliminary data collected over a stationary boundary will be presented.