Characteristics of Turbidity Currents in the Xiaolangdi Reservoir Considering Sediment Effective Power

LI Bin; WAN Zhanwei; GAO Xing; LI Shusen; BAI Yuchuan; LU Jun

doi:10.21656/1000-0887.450322

Volume 46 Issue 9

Sep. 2025

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Article Navigation > Applied Mathematics and Mechanics > 2025 > 46(9): 1218-1232

LI Bin, WAN Zhanwei, GAO Xing, LI Shusen, BAI Yuchuan, LU Jun. Characteristics of Turbidity Currents in the Xiaolangdi Reservoir Considering Sediment Effective Power[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2025, 46(9): 1218-1232. doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.450322

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Characteristics of Turbidity Currents in the Xiaolangdi Reservoir Considering Sediment Effective Power

doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.450322

LI Bin^1,2,
WAN Zhanwei^1,2,3,
GAO Xing^{1,2
,
,},
LI Shusen⁴,
BAI Yuchuan⁵,
LU Jun^1,2

1. Yellow River Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 450003, P.R.China;
2. Key Laboratory of Water Management and Water Security for Yellow River Basin, Ministry of Water Resources, Zhengzhou 450003, P.R.China;
3. Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R.China;
4. Yellow River Conservancy Commission Henan Hydrological and Water Resources Bureau, Zhengzhou 450003, P.R.China;
5. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Intelligent Construction and Operation, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, P.R.China

Funds:

The National Science Foundation of China(51979185)

Received Date: 2024-12-02
Rev Recd Date: 2025-02-10

Available Online: 2025-10-17

Abstract

Abstract

Turbidity currents in reservoirs are significant for improving reservoir utilization efficiency, efficient sediment discharge, and extending the reservoir lifespan. They are also crucial in water and sediment regulation schemes for sediment-laden rivers. The governing equations for turbidity currents were established and the evolution characteristics of turbidity currents in the Xiaolangdi Reservoir were analyzed through integration of the effective suspension power theory and the self-similarity theory for turbidity currents. The results indicate that, the turbidity current in Xiaolangdi Reservoir exhibits 3 distinct evolutionary states: attenuation, self-suspension, and activation. During its longitudinal evolution, there exists a critical position x_0c. Upstream of x_0c,the turbidity current thickness, sediment concentration, and flow velocity exhibit minimal responses to changes in particle sizes, slopes, and resistance coefficients. Downstream of x_0c,the turbidity current thickness increases rapidly with the rises in particle sizes, slopes, and resistance coefficients. An increase or decrease in particle sizes can cause the turbidity current to transition from the activation state to the attenuation or self-suspension state, respectively. When the slope exceeds the critical value, the turbidity current will transition to the activation state. When the resistance coefficient will surpass the critical resistance coefficient, and the turbidity current will gradually transition to the attenuation state, whereas a resistance coefficient below the critical value will make the turbidity current maintain in its original state. As the Richardson number decreases at the plunging point, the growth rate of the turbidity current thickness downstream of x_0c will slow, the stability of the turbidity current will weaken, and the turbidity current will transition to the attenuation state. In the activation state, the flow velocity of the turbidity current will increase downstream of x_0c.These findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the movement characteristics of reservoir turbidity currents and offer theoretical support for developing regulation schemes during water and sediment management in sediment-laden river reservoirs.
- turbidity current,
- Xiaolangdi Reservoir,
- sediment effective power,
- self-similarity,
- sediment-laden river

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