Distribution of silt in open channels

A theory of silt‐distribution in open channels as advanced by Schmidt [see reference 17 under section “References] was recently outlined by O'Brien [13]. The present paper, based upon a thesis on file at the Hydraulic Laboratory of the University of California, gives the results of a study of available data for the purpose of comparing observed silt‐distribution with the theory. As used in this paper, the term “silt” refers to the solid matter which is transported in suspension, but not to that which moves as bed‐load. In any study of silt‐problems, the cost and difficulty of securing and analyzing silt‐samples oblige one to use the smallest number of samples that will represent the mean silt‐concentration with reasonable accuracy. Many studies have been made to determine the distribution of silt throughout the cross‐section of the streamchannel. Unfortunately, in the absence of a rational theory of silt‐distribution, many factors influencing the distribution were not recognized as such, and no attempt was made to determine them.