@article{fdi:010064928,
  title = {{U}sing an optical settling column to assess suspension characteristics within the free, flocculation, and hindered settling regimes},
  author = {{W}endling, {V}. and {G}ratiot, {N}icolas and {L}egout, {C}. and {D}roppo, {I}. {G}. and {C}oulaud, {C}. and {M}ercier, {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}nstruments able to measure the settling velocity distribution ({SVD}) and investigate the flocculation behavior of suspensions for a wide range of concentrations and settling regimes are required to understand and model sediment transport in headwater catchments. {S}uch knowledge will improve our water resource management capabilities. {A}n optical settling column, equipped with a vertical array of optical sensors, was used to provide light transmission through a suspension during quiescent settling. {A} new method to determine the settling velocity and the propensity of suspensions to flocculate is proposed. {I}ts reliability was evaluated based on settling tests for (1) noncohesive sediments, (2) cohesive sediments at medium (similar to 1 g l(-1)) concentration in a natural and deflocculated state, and (3) a cohesive sediment at a very high concentration (similar to 10 g l(-1)). {T}his choice of sediments and concentrations allowed for the assessment of free, flocculated, and hindered settling regimes. {T}he proposed data processing method provides measurements for a range of test conditions. {T}he result showed that different populations of particles with different settling behaviors can be identified within the suspensions. {I}n the case of noncohesive sediments, the proposed method provided {SVD} similar to those obtained with reference methods. {T}he propensity to flocculate was zero as expected for inert material. {T}he natural cohesive sediment at medium concentration exhibited a large range of {SVD} (10(-2)-10(-5) m s(-1)) and high propensity to flocculate. {T}hese were both reduced with the addition of a deflocculant. {I}dentified particle behaviors were consistent with independent measurement of size distribution, microscopic, and erosion properties. {I}n the hindered regime, a narrow {SVD} corresponded to the hindered front settling velocity (similar to 10(-4) m s(-1)). {A}n optical settling column was able to provide reliable {SVD} and an evaluation of the propensity of particles to flocculate. {T}he settling column was able to detect variations of the settling velocities with settled depth, thus highlighting that settling columns with a single measurement point may provide erroneous results by not accounting for the full spectrum of settling depth.},
  keywords = {{C}ohesive sediments ; {F}locculation ; {S}ettling regimes ; {O}ptical measurement ; {S}ettling velocity ; {S}uspended sediment transport ; {FRANCE} ; {CANADA}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {S}oils and {S}ediments},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {9},
  pages = {1991--2003},
  ISSN = {1439-0108},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1007/s11368-015-1135-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064928},
}