The variability of marine sediment erodibility with depth: Centimetric scale effects detected from portable erosion flume tests

A portable erosion flume has been developed that is capable of estimating threshold and rate relationships for fine-grained specimens over the depth a typical sample tube. This newly-designed apparatus recirculating generating steady currents exposed section sample. In this paper, properties two marine sediments have determined show significant systematic variation with at centimetre scale would implications potential need scour protection engineering. The tests showed critical onset velocity doubled upper 200 mm each sample, fell by an order magnitude. increased resistance consistent general trend erodibility reducing decreasing moisture content. Ignoring effect when selecting design values could lead to erroneous predictions extent around subsea structures, unnecessary engineering costs.