Toward a better understanding of concentrated flow erosion processes: an experimental approach

Abstract

Predicting rill erosion rates for a given discharge and slope minimally requires a model for rill hydraulics that allows the prediction of hydraulic parameters and a model for sediment detachment. Several relationships that describe rill hydraulics and/or sediment detachment within an eroding rill have been proposed and are incorporated into state of the art soil erosion models. In this paper a critical review of the theoretical concepts that are underpinning current rill flow and sediment detachment models is made in the light of several experimental results. A brief description and justification of each of these experiments is also given.