Research Brief:
Dredge Bucket Comparison Demonstration at Boston Harbor

Issue     

Research is needed to document sediment resuspension in the water column and investigate solids/water loading ratios of conventional and enclosed clamshell buckets This would assist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Districts in making bucket selection decisions and provide data for numerical model verification.

Research/Objectives    

Sediment resuspension and loading characteristics (solids/water loading ratios) of a Conventional clamshell bucket, an Enclosed clamshell bucket, and a CableArm clamshell bucket were studied under similar operating and environmental conditions in Boston Harbor during August 1999. Monitoring was conducted to characterize near and far field sediment resuspension and loading characteristics of these buckets.

The objectives of studies were to gain better understandings of sediment resuspension and loading characteristics generated by different types of buckets to optimize bucket selection for various dredging needs. In addition, providing development/verification data would result in improved numerical models' ability to predict sediment resuspension. The study also provided development/verification data for improving numerical models' ability to predict sediment resuspension.

Results/Products     

The study showed (lowest to highest sediment resuspension ranking):

Research Team    

Tim Welp, Mike Tubman, James E. Clausner (601-634-2009), ERDC
Tom Fredette, New England District
Don Hayes, University of Utah
Scott McDowell, SAIC
Carl Albro, Battelle