Verification of bedload transport formula at the sub-cross-section scale

Equations to predict bed load transport have typically been developed and tested using flume data sets and cross-sectionally averaged field data sets. Many of these formulae are being used to predict sediment transport in multi-dimensional sediment transport models at scales smaller than a typical cross section. This paper discusses the usage of a dataset with hydraulic and sediment measurements, sufficient to apply bed load sediment transport functions on a sub-cross-section scale. This data includes 119 bed load transport measurements at seven sites on the Missouri River, plus the associated suspended sediment concentration and gradation, bed sediment size gradation, and water velocity, discharge, slope, and temperature. Bed load values are computed using two common bed load prediction formulae and are compared against the Integrated Section, Surface Difference Over Time, Version 2 (ISSDOTv2) measured values for both the average measured section and sub-cross section scales.