Interaction of water waves with fluidized mud in a rectangular trench

Abstract

The dynamic response of fluidized mud in a rectangular trench to water waves propagating over the trench was studied experimentally. It was shown that the motion of the fluid mud became large compared to the surface wave when the frequency of the surface wave approached the natural frequency of the fluid mud in the trench. This resonance phenomenon may be used to induce large shear rate in cohesive sediment in a scaled model. Detailed experiments were conducted to obtain a data base that might be used to verify theoretical models for predicting the dynamic responses of fluidized mud under various hydrodynamic conditions. The elevations of the water surface and the water/mud interface were measured for different wave periods and mud depths. Mud sample were withdrawn to determine the density profiles, and extensive tests were performed to determine the shear stress/shear rate curves of the mud. Lastly, the experimental results were compared to the model developed by Ting (1994).