The physical modelling of braided rivers and deposition of fine-grained sediment

This paper presents details of the scaled physical modelling of a gravel-bed braided river and an investigation of the depositional sites of fine-grained sediments within such systems. The flume model follows the principles of Froude scale modelling where the flow Reynolds number is relaxed in order to achieve model-prototype similarity. It is argued that scaled models can be operated at grain Reynolds numbers less than the critical value of 70 adopted in past studies. Results from the flume model indicate six major sites for the deposition of fine-grained sediment within gravel-bed braided rivers. Details are presented of the morphology of these depositional niches together with the first results of experiments on the aggradation of braided rivers. These results are discussed in the light of database requirements on depositional morphology which are a necessary input within hydrocarbon reservoir simulation models. (from Authors)