Work

Experimental Study of Sediment Incipient Velocity and Scouring in Submarine Cable Burial Areas

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the incipient motion and scouring of sediments around simulated submarine cables in a controlled flume experiment, focusing on five distinct grain sizes in an experimental pool. The measured incipient velocity values were compared with predictions from three established formulas, leading to a modification of the Sun Zhilin formula for improved accuracy. By incrementally increasing flow velocity, the scour depth and scour duration were measured required to expose cables buried at varying depths for different sediment sizes, and the relationships between scour rate, relative flow rate, and Froude number were analyzed. The results indicate that as the Froude number increases, both the relative flow velocity and scour rate increase, thereby enhancing the erosion of sediment. The modified formula demonstrated a higher consistency with observed scour depths, providing a reliable tool for assessing submarine cable exposure risks. These findings offer valuable insights for developing effective protection strategies to enhance cable stability in complex marine environments. This research highlights the importance of understanding sediment dynamics and their impact on submarine cable stability, contributing to the development of more effective protection strategies for submarine cables in dynamic seabed conditions.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w17091310

Authors: Fanjun Chen, Wankang Yang, Feng Liu, Lili Zhu, Zhilin Sun

Institutions: Zhejiang University, Ministry of Natural Resources, Second Institute of Oceanography

Language: English

Topic: Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: National Key Research and Development Program of China