The description of the motion and causes of motion of sediment still encounter difficulties at fundamental levels. Controlled laboratory experiments have always been a powerful means to acquire knowledge on the physical processes relevant to the fields of sedimentology, morphodynamics and mechanics of granular material. Experiments are also a useful way to develop and test numerical models, which can then be used to better understand physical process at different scales and to develop field measurements. However, there can be issues around simplification and scaling when using experiments and numerical approaches that need to be addressed. For instance, the vast amount of research work carried out at the grain-scale has yet to be harmonized to match results obtained at macroscale into a consistent theoretical body.

This session features contributions on laboratory experiments and numerical approaches that contribute to the development of knowledge in sedimentology, stratigraphy, morphodynamics and mechanics of granular material.


Substantial contributions to the organisation of this session were given by EU-funded projects, "HYTECH" (ITN-Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN-316546) and "SEDITRANS (ITN-Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN- 607394), and by a working group formed to promote fundamental research on mechanics of sediment transport which, in addition to some of the convenors of the session, includes Claudia Adduce, Christophe Ancey, Robert Bialik, Philippe Frey, Andrea Marion, Vladimir Nikora, Athanasios Papanicolaou, Alessio Radice and Simon Tait.