A two-dimensional acoustic sediment flux profiler

Instantaneous sediment flux measurement is important for the study of the detailed effects of turbulent currents and their relation to the transport of sedimentary materials. This paper presents a novel acoustic sediment flux profiler which is able to measure the instantaneous sediment flux profile directly. Three 1 MHz ultrasonic transducers are employed to measure the instantaneous concentration profile and the corresponding 2D velocity profile simultaneously. The principle of operation of the system and its realization are discussed. Experimental results obtained in an open-channel sediment-laden flow are reported.