Three‐dimensional modelling of cohesive sediment transport in the Loire estuary

In the framework of a European research programme, processes describing cohesive sediment transport, including fluid mud movements and consolidation, have been modelled and implemented in the three-dimensional finite element model TELEMAC-3D, which solves free surface flow problems. The model has been applied to several European estuaries and among them, the Loire estuary in France. This application proved the ability of the code to reproduce typical estuarine features such as the formation of a turbidity maximum and the movements of fluid mud.