Events

Monday 20 March 2006: ATHENS cursus on Mud Processes (Leuven, Belgium)
Athens Course data sheet

Name institution: Hydraulics Laboratory, K.U.Leuven

Course period: 20-24 March 2006
Domain course: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Title course: Coastal and estuarine mud (why we like and dislike it)

Key words: mud, cohesive sediment, morphodynamic processes, dredging, environment

Address course: Faculty of Engineering
Kasteelpark Arenberg
B-3001 Leuven, Belgium

Total number of places:30

Name course organiser: Prof. dr. Erik Toorman

Co-ordinates: Hydraulics Laboratory
Civil Engineering Department
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Kasteelpark Arenberg 40
B-3001 Leuven
Belgium
erik.toorman@bwk.kuleuven.be

Organised for: MSc & Doctoral students in engineering, oceanology & geology/geography (or similar)

Language: English

Brief description:
Mud often occurs in large quantities in estuaries and along coasts in the neighbourhood of river mouths. It contributes to the shaping of our coastline. Mud is of great importance from an environmental point of view (e.g., as a nutrient source for many living organisms, as a natural protection of the coast against waves). But it also causes siltation of navigation ways and harbours and is prone to heavy pollution.
This course will examine the various processes of cohesive sediment transport, how they help to understand mud behaviour and its important environmental role, and how science and engineering contribute to the study and mitigation of the related problems it can cause. Attention is given to the physics, some chemistry and biology of the processes, and to experimental and mathematical research tools. Some simple experiments will be carried out and a field trip organised.


Objectives:
Providing insight into the mechanics of cohesive sediment transport processes and how they help to understand the environmental and socio-economic importance of coastal and estuarine mud research.

Technical programme to be followed: details attached

Prerequisite of the course: Basic knowledge on fluid mechanics
Course exam: Presentation of project work on a case study

Details ATHENS course proposal (provisional)
by Prof. E. Toorman; Hydraulics Laboratory, K.U. Leuven

Coastal and estuarine mud:
why we like and dislike it.


Theory 1&2 (2x "1.5 hr seminar)
·What is mud? (Erik Toorman)
-Characterizing mud
·Moving & shaping mud (morphodynamics) (Erik Toorman)
-Mud transport processes
-Engineering problems (design of structures, prediction of morphology and siltation, restoration …)

Theory 3 ("1.5 hr seminar)
·Mud as ecosystem (Dr. Steven Degraer, Marine Biology, UGent)
-Tidal and intertidal flats

Theory 4 ("1.5 hr seminar)
-Mud as nuisance (siltation, dredging, pollution) (Dr. Dries Vanden Eynde, MUMM)
-Dredging strategy: weighting the options
-Dredged material dumping at sea

Theory 5&6 (2x "1.5hr seminar)
-Studying & forecasting mud (measuring and modelling mud) (Erik Toorman)
-Why ?
-Short-term
-Long-term
-Measuring what ?
-Mud transport modelling: possibilities and limitations, calibration, validation, interpretation
-Examples:
(For example:
-Mont St. Michel (France)
-Building on mud: Airports at sea (Kyoto, Inchon, Rotterdam, …)
-Avoiding mud in harbour basins (sediment traps, current deflection wall, permanent mud pumping station, …)
-Mud from space: using remote sensing (Jaak Monbaliu & Stefanie Adam, KUL)

Theory 6 ("1.5 hr seminar)
-Tropical mud (Prof. P. Augustinus, U. Utrecht & Erik Toorman)
-Mud as wave absorbing protector (natural: India, Suriname, … - artificial: Mexican Gulf (Louisiana), …)
-Interaction with mangroves (mangrove ecosystem / Suriname …)
-Restoration of mangrove coasts (Vietnam, …)
-Mud slidings in mountainous areas (debris flow)

Theory 7 ("1.5 hr seminar)
-Mud and integral water management: case studies
-Scheldt river (lecturer to be confirmed):
-Controlled floodplains
-Long-term vision (cf. ProSes)
-Mud flats: Yzermouth nature reserve

Lab. Experiments:
-Settling, flocculation, deposition & consolidation
-Rheology
-Erosion

Excercises
-Data analysis of lab. experiment and field data
-Simple sediment transport predictions

Thursday (full day excursion to DEME, Zwijndrecht & Antwerp Harbour & Scheldt mud flats)
Theory 9&10
-Mud as waste (seminar by DEME)
-Dredging technology
-Contamination of mud
-Handling & Treatment of dredged material
-Beneficial use
-Visit to dredged material treatment installations
Excursion
-Visit to Scheldt tidal flats

Friday
-Project groups
-Case study analysis
-Evaluation of the students
-Project presentations
Evaluation of the course by the students
Organiser: Hydraulics Laboratory, K.U.Leuven



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