PREDICTING EROSION RESISTANCE OF MUDS

When measured or apparent yield stress of cohesive muds is assumed to reflect average particle-particle bond strength in network structures, critical bed shear stress required for grain-by-grain entrainment can be predicted from an analysis of the forces acting on component grains of geometrically-flat mud beds. Erosion resistance is then defined in terms of cohesive yield stress as well as nominal particle size, shape, relative density, and packing geometry. Predicted values of critical bed shear stress compare favorably with existing data from selected studies in which appropriate yield stress and hydrodynamic parameters have been reported.