Sediment Transport with Particle Tracking
Particle Tracking
The TUFLOW Particle Tracking Module (PT Module) allows the 2D or 3D simulation of discrete Lagrangian particles as they are transported by the flow field (or other drivers such as wind or waves). Particle behavior such as settling, buoyancy, decay, sedimentation and re-suspension can all be simulated. It can be run in conjunction with the sediment transport module to simulated the fate and age of sediment particles within the hydraulic model.
In this optional exercise we will take the existing FMA2_SED_002 model and add some particle tracking to track the input of particles.
Copy and paste the existing FMA2_SED_002.fvc file and rename as FMA2_SED_002a.fvc.
Under the Sediment Files Block add the following particle tracking block to reference a particle tracking file that we will generate.
!_________________________________________________________________ !PARTICLE TRACKING CONTROL FILE Particle Tracking Control File == FMA2_SED_002a.fvptm !Reference to TUFLOW FV Particle Tracking Definition File
In the netcdf output commands block, add the following parameters: Tauc, PTM_1. This will output hydraulic parameters, sediment transport parameters as well as results from the particle tracking module.
output == netcdf !NetCDF Format
output parameters == h, v d zb, Taub, SED_1, TSS, DEPOSITION_TOTAL, THICK, BED_MASS_TOTAL, PICKUP_TOTAL, NETSEDRATE_TOTAL, Tauc, PTM_1
output interval == 900. !Map Output Results Interval
end output !End output block
Save and close the file.
Generate a new file called FMA2_SED_002a.fvptm. This is where we will generate the characteristics of our particle tracking module. We will use the same sediment characteristics that we have already applied to the sediment transport model. Add the following commands
! PTM to assess fate of STP plume
! use nodestring definition from HD model to allow particles to leave model domain.
open boundary nodestring == 2 ! downstream tidal boundary
!!TIME COMMANDS
!_________________________________________________________________
lagrangian timestep == 120. ! Timestep for Lagrangian Calculations (s)
eulerian timestep == 120. ! Timestep for Eulerian (s)
! Sediment Transport COMMANDS (required if a particle group interacts with bed)
bed roughness model == d50 ! Bed Roughness Model Specification (s)
bed roughness parameters == 2.5,0.01 ! Bed Roughness Model Parameters, ksc, ksw
!Global COMMANDS
Nscalar == 1 ! Number of Mass Constituents attached to each particle
!PARTICLE GROUP COMMANDS
!_________________________________________________________________
Group == fineSed ! Begin Particle Group Definition
d50 == 0.0002 ! Median Particle Size (m)
particle density == 2650 ! Particle Density (kg/m3)
Settling model == constant ! Settling model
settling parameters == 0.026 ! Settling Model Parameters-Settling Velocity(m/s)
deposition model == ws0 ! Deposition Model
Erosion Model == Mehta ! Erosion Model
Erosion parameters == 1.3, 0.2, 1.5 ! Erosion Model Parameters-Er, taucr, alpha
initial scalar mass == 10000 ! Initial Mass of Individual Particles (g)
End Group ! End Particle Group Definition
!_________________________________________________________________
! This is required due to adding deposition and settling.
Material == 0 ! Default Material Definition
Layer == 1 ! Number of Bed Layers
dry density == 1890.,1890 ! Dry Density of Sediment in bed Layer (Kg/m3)
End layer ! End Layer Definition
end material ! End Material Definition
!Upstream Particle Seed Location
seed particles == point, 10608,10859 ! Particle Seed Definition, point and X,Y Coordinates
particle groups == fineSed ! Particle Seed Group
timeseries file == ..\bc_dbase\sediment.csv ! Particle Seed Timeseries File
timeseries header == Date,fineSed ! Particle Seed Headings
end seed ! End Particle Seed Definition
! OUTPUT SETTINGS
!_________________________________________________________________
output dir == ..\results\ ! Particle Results Output Directory
output == ptm_netcdf ! Particle Results Output Format
output groups == all ! Particle Group to Output Results For
output parameters == age, state_age, mass, uvw, uvw_water, depth, water_depth ! Particle Results Output Parameters
output interval == 900. ! Particle Results Output Interval (s)
end output ! End Particle Output Definition Block
Save and close the file.
We will use the same FMA2_SED_002.fvsed file as the original model with no particle tracking functionality..
Copy and paste the Sediment.csv from the Module folder to the bc_dbase folder. This contains the time series flux for the fine sediment group with a value of 1000g/s.
The number of particles per second is equal to:-
Time Series Mass (g/s)/Initial Scalar Mass (g)
The initial scalar mass defined in our particle group settings is 1000g. Therefore the number of particles released per second is:-
1000/10000=0.1 particles per second. Over the 10 hour release period, this equates to 3600 particles being released in total.
Update the batch file and run FMA2_SED_002a.fvc. Once the simulation is complete, use the instructions below to review the particle tracking outputs:-
Plot and animate the particles against the Net Sediment Rate map we generated here. You'll see that the particles are transported downstream (blue particles) before being deposited in the bed (brown particles) or are deposited on areas which subsequently become dry (yellow particles). The particle tracking module provides additional information to the sediment transport module and provides a different aspect of analysis of sediment transport which is useful for assessing contaminated sediments amongst others.
You have now completed the particle tracking sediment transport example.
Return to the Sediment Transport Tutorial to follow the next steps.