The wave-induced sediment responses in the subaquous Yellow River delta, China: new insights into seabed inhomogeneity

Abstract:

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the wave-induced sediment responses in the subaqueous Yellow River delta. The pore pressure, sediment particle size composition, microstructure, physical and mechanical properties at different depths inside the seabed were observed during the experimental process under the weight of the soil and under the action of waves of different heights. The results showed that wave-induced sediment responses significantly controlled the occurrence and evolution of inhomogeneity in the strength and sediment distribution of a uniform-originated silty seabed. The variations in the strength, composition and structure of during the wave-sediment interaction processes are closely related to the pore water seepage inside the seabed. The driving machanism can be devided into three modes: transient seepage caused by pore pressure oscillation, seepage failure caused by pore pressure accumulation and liquefaction failure caused by pore pressure accumulation, during which the latter is the main cause of vertical transport of pore water carrying a large amount of fine particles inside the seabed of the subaqueous Yellow River delta. The array of features observed in these experiments can be incorporated into a new model of seabed stratification in uniform-originated silty sediments during wave-sediment interaction. In addition, the implications of this model for traditional sedimentology are explored from a sediment dynamic perspective.