Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R60843/01
Title:	Flow Transformations in Particulate Gravity Currents; A Combined Laboratory and Numerical Modelling Study
Principal Investigator:	Peakall, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Earth Sciences
Organisation:	University of Leeds
Scheme:	Fast Stream
Starts:	01 November 2001	Ends:	31 December 2002	Value (£):	62,155
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Coastal & Waterway Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
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Summary on Grant Application Form
It is proposed to study the poorly understood process of flow transformation between a subaqueous mass flow and a low density particulate gravity current. A combined experimental and numerical approach will be adopted to elucidate the key mechanisms of transformation and verify the numerical model. Two series of experiments will examine the transformation process in i) cohesionless and ii) cohesive flows at a range of volumetric concentrations (0.05-0.4), with a third series assessing mixed cohesive-cohesionless flows at a single concentration. These experiments will allow the nature and rate of transformation to be quantitatively assessed as a function of i) flow components (e.g. cohesive or non-cohesive particulates), ii) bulk concentrations and concentration gradients, and iii) flow rheology (through measurements of velocities, turbulence, particle distributions and at-a-point concentrations). An existing turbidity current model for high concentration, non-cohesive, suspended load will be developed to model the diverse rheologies involved in cohesive and mixed cohesive-cohesionless flows. By locally determining the rheology of the flow based on the composition and properties of the sediment being transported, the interaction between different rheologies in different parts of the flow can be modelled, thus allowing a continuous change between dense and dilute parts of the flow. The model will be validated at each stage of development against the experimental datasets.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.leeds.ac.uk