Progress and Prospects in the Sedimentological Applications of Circular Flume Physical Simulation

Key words: 
• physical simulation /
• circular flume /
• sedimentary geology /
• sedimentary process /
• implications

Abstract: [Significance] The sedimentary simulation experiment in a circular flume is one of the effective means to simulate the sedimentary process and reveal its formation mechanism. It holds significant importance in research areas such as hydraulic engineering, environmental science, sedimentology, and oil and gas exploration. The circular flume can sustain continuous fluid flow under the influence of inertial and shear forces and is approximated as transporting and depositing over an infinite distance. Therefore, it can approximately replicate environmental fluid conditions in terms of transport distance and fluid velocity, overcoming the limitations of traditional flume simulations. [Progress] To meet the research needs of different application scenarios, circular flume have gradually evolved into four types, including conventional circular flume, in-situ circular flume, Mini circular tanks, and racetrack flume. Physical simulations in circular flume have achieved fruitful results in studying sediment characteristics, bedform morphology, and settling mechanisms, among other aspects. However, there is still a relative scarcity of research in sedimentary physical simulation. With the development of technology and equipment, research in sedimentary physical simulation has also made significant progress. Gravity flow sedimentation, the dynamics of fine-grained sediment transport, and tidal and wave sedimentation have become important research areas in physical simulation of circular flume. Nevertheless, there are several limitations in circular flume physical simulation, such as the influence of secondary circulation and the tracking of lateral sediment evolution, which will be optimized in subsequent research through improved experimental designs and enhanced measurement accuracy. [Conclusions and Prospects] In summary, expanding the application scope of circular flume physical simulation based on sedimentology principles will make significant contributions to the innovative development of fundamental sedimentology theory, as well as various aspects such as fine-grained sedimentology and unconventional petroleum sedimentology.