Author(s): Zijian Yu; Wenming Zhang

Linked Author(s): Wenming Zhang

Keywords: Microplastics; Microplastics transport; Particle dispersion

Abstract: Understanding how microplastics are transported in open channel flow is essential for developing accurate transport models. Microplastics exhibit discontinuous motions, including periods of motion and rest, when the flow velocity is just above the threshold for transport. This study used particle tracking velocimetry to analyze a representative type of microplastics and provided statistical descriptions of their kinematics in open channel flow, including streamwise and cross-stream particle velocity, travel length, and rest time. The results showed that the probability density distributions of streamwise travel length and rest time were heavy-tailed, while the other variables followed exponential distributions. The study also revealed that the streamwise travel length had a power law relationship with the travel time, and the cross-stream variance increased linearly with the streamwise travel length, indicating the presence of an anomalous diffusion process. These findings provide experimental data on critical parameters for validating microplastic transport numerical simulations.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-90-833476-1-5_iahr40wc-p0641-cd

Year: 2023