Measurement of particle velocity during sediment consolidation

In order to examine the process of sediment consolidation, a new technique was developed to measure the velocities of individual particles, V-s as a function of the time, t, and absolute elevation, h. A series of batch settling tests was conducted, with a CCD camera and microscope objective positioned at a different elevation in each test. At a given time during the sediment consolidation, the particles in the field of view were observed to be in close contact and to move downwards en masse. Within a limited domain of the h vs t plane, the velocity of a particle varied empirically according to V-s = V-0(-2)(h/t)(3), where V-0 was a constant. Deviations from this relationship occurred toward the end of the consolidation when all movement appeared to cease, and at positions near the top of the sediment. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.