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Abstract
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In the current study, interactions between multiple parameters controlling sediment transport mechanisms in fluvial systems were studied based on the analysis of 811 laboratory experiments. The combined influences of hydraulic parameters, including discharge (0.004–0.643 m³/s), channel width (0.267–2.438 m), flow depth (0.023–0.421 m), and slope (0.0001–0.0193), as well as environmental conditions (temperature: 1.67–48.00 °C) on transport rates were considered. Parameter interactions were assessed based on dimensionless analysis, which resulted in Shields parameter (0.051–16.897), Froude number (0.132–1.715), and Reynolds number (0.056 × 10⁵–3.940 × 10⁵). Statistical analysis showed high cross-correlations, with the strongest relationship between discharge and channel width (r = 0.741). The combined influence of several parameters was described using a multivariate transport equation incorporating the Froude number, relative submergence, normalized slope, and temperature effects. This relation had high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.82–0.91) over four distinct transport regimes identified by cluster analysis. Temperature (T) and parameter interactions were evaluated through a correction factor CT = [1 + 0.025(T − 20)], which shows significant thermal effects on transport rates. Channel geometry was found to have a significant interaction with flow parameters since narrower channels showed higher transport rates due to concentration effects in flow.
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