Channeling has already been an observed phenomenon that often occurs during settling and sedimentation processes of finer materials. However, it has been regarded as a minor factor affecting settling process, e.g. settling velocity or consolidation rate. In this study, settling behaviors of talcs, kaolins and attapulgite were reviewed by experiments with small and large settling columns with special focus on channel formation during sedimentation. The large settling column is equipped with twenty eight measuring points, which are connected to pressure transducers for measuring pore pressure changes during settling. Throughout the study, channel formation was observed and related to the experimental conditions affecting it. The excess pore pressure changes were measured during the large column tests. Channels occurred under flocculation in zone settling and also in consolidation zones; pressure drop was observed near channels in some cases. It was apparent that channels work as a facilitator to dissipate the excess pore water pressure. It is summarized that not only initial concentration but also the material properties, such as specific gravity and shape of particles, can affect the channel formation. / Master of Science

Each year in the United States, large volumes of material are dredged out of lakes and waterways and are dumped in confined disposal facilities so that they can consolidate. A mathematical model is proposed to predict the settling of the dredged material by predicting the ?primary? self-weight consolidation curve of silt particles under zone settling conditions. Using a relatively ?pure? specimen of silt, self-weight consolidation tests were performed at concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 grams per liter. To generate the predicted curve, the model requires the location of the zone interface at 180, 600, and 720 seconds and the assumed A-value. The A-value is used to ?fine-tune? the predicted curve so that it will fit the experimental curve. When values of ?A? from 0.85 to 0.95 are used, the predicted curve will fit the experimental curve for all concentrations considered. Thus, to predict the ?primary? self-weight consolidation of the dredged material, a sedimentation test using a sample of the dredged material must first be performed.

Ce travail porte sur l’étude expérimentale et la modélisation de la sédimentation des boues activées. Un pilote expérimental associant une colonne de sédimentation et un transducteur ultrasonore est proposé. Des profils de vitesse de sédimentation et de concentration en particules sont obtenus grâce à ce dispositif, ce qui permet de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de décantation des boues. Ces résultats sont utilisés afin de développer une approche numérique. Un modèle de sédimentation est construit en intégrant des fonctions expérimentales. Une méthodologie mettant en œuvre la différentiation automatique du modèle est ensuite élaborée et appliquée, d'une part, à l'analyse de sensibilité du modèle aux paramètres des fonctions utilisées et, d'autre part, à l'identification des valeurs de ces paramètres à l'aide des résultats expérimentaux. La conjonction des approches expérimentale et numérique proposées constitue un processus efficace pour le développement des modèles de sédimentation. / This work deals with the experimental investigation and modelling of activated sludge settling. An experimental setup combining a settling column and an ultrasonic transducer is proposed. Settling velocity and concentration profiles are obtained using this setup, allowing for a better understanding of the mechanisms of activated sludge settling. These results are applied to the development of a numerical approach. A settling model using experimental functions is built. A methodology based on the automatic differentiation of the model is developed. This methodology is used, on the one hand, to analyse the sensitivity of the results to the model parameters and, on the other hand, to identify the parameter values on the basis of experimental data. The combination of the proposed experimental and numerical methods yields an efficient process for the development of sedimentation models.