TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of operational parameters on turbidity generation in cutter suction dredging: Insights from a numerical model and sensitivity analysis
AU - Mahgoub, Mosaab
AU - Keetels, G.H.
AU - Alhaddad, Said
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - The cutter suction dredger (CSD) is one of the main vessels utilized in the dredging industry. The dynamic actions related to its rotating cutter head are the main trigger for sediment release and turbidity generation by this vessel. The ability to predict the evolution of this turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations is imperative for effective environmental management. This predictive capability allows ecologists to estimate potential damage, enabling environmental managers to propose appropriate mitigation measures. In this study, we conducted a qualitative numerical assessment of the characteristics of turbidity currents generated as a result of cutter suction dredging of densely-packed sand. To this end, we developed a one-dimensional physics-based model, providing the order of magnitude of sediment fluxes and concentration levels. In addition, a quantitative sensitivity analysis is performed to unravel the relative influence of key operational parameters on the generated turbidity currents. The results of this research reveal that breaching (dilative underwater slope failure) is a major source of sediment release by CSDs and should be incorporated in the source-term estimation. It is also found that the cut ratio is the most influential operational parameter on the generated turbidity.
AB - The cutter suction dredger (CSD) is one of the main vessels utilized in the dredging industry. The dynamic actions related to its rotating cutter head are the main trigger for sediment release and turbidity generation by this vessel. The ability to predict the evolution of this turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations is imperative for effective environmental management. This predictive capability allows ecologists to estimate potential damage, enabling environmental managers to propose appropriate mitigation measures. In this study, we conducted a qualitative numerical assessment of the characteristics of turbidity currents generated as a result of cutter suction dredging of densely-packed sand. To this end, we developed a one-dimensional physics-based model, providing the order of magnitude of sediment fluxes and concentration levels. In addition, a quantitative sensitivity analysis is performed to unravel the relative influence of key operational parameters on the generated turbidity currents. The results of this research reveal that breaching (dilative underwater slope failure) is a major source of sediment release by CSDs and should be incorporated in the source-term estimation. It is also found that the cut ratio is the most influential operational parameter on the generated turbidity.
KW - Cutter suction dredger
KW - Turbidity currents
KW - Sediment plumes
KW - Environmental impact assessment
KW - Breaching
KW - Sediment resuspension
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85209636835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apor.2024.104312
DO - 10.1016/j.apor.2024.104312
M3 - Article
SN - 0141-1187
VL - 154
JO - Applied Ocean Research
JF - Applied Ocean Research
M1 - 104312
ER -