CORMIX Navigation Bar Home FAQ About CORMIX Software Applications Methodology References Model Validations Benchmark Technical Support Site Registration Downloads Upgrades Request Unlock Codes Order/Purchase Training Mixing Gallery New Developments Feedback Glossary Search
 

CORMIX - GTS Advanced Tools Sediment

Continuous Dredge Disposal

Water Quality Mixing Zone Model

D-CORMIX (formerly called CD-CORMIX) is a decision support system currently under development in cooperation with USEPA and US Army Corps of Engineers which extends the CORMIX expert system to water quality prediction from continuous dredge disposal sources. It models water column characteristics resulting from sources of suspended sediment in continuos pipeline dredging operations often referred to as "flow lane" or "in-water" disposal.
Continuous pipeline dredge above surface discharge.

This DOS, rule-based expert system for turbulent buoyant jet mixing behavior covers a broad range of discharge and environmental conditions typically associated with continuous dredge disposal.

Suspened Sediment Particle Size Classes

D-CORMIX includes the effects of particle settling on dredge plume behavior, with emphasis on the resulting plume density current. The model accounts for settling of five particle size fractions:

  1. Chunks
  2. Sand
  3. Coarse Silt
  4. Fine Silt
  5. Clay
A remote sensing image of a continuous dredge disposal sediment plume in Florida. (Source: USGS)

The systems models the discharge source material within the resulting density current. D-CORMIX predicts the water column suspended sediment and tracer concentrations in addition to dimensions of the resultant disposal plume.

D-CORMIX uses the same user interface as CORMIX v3.2 (DOS), however 2-D plume graphics through CORGRAPH are not available in present versions.

A windows verions of D-CORMIX is currently under development and testing.
The D-CORMIX flow classification scheme for negatively buoyant near-surface discharges into uniform density layers.

Some of the special features of D-CORMIX include:
  • Above surface discharge conditions with or without deflector plates.
  • Negatively buoyant surface discharges.
  • Bottom density currents with particle settling.
  • Effect of bottom slope on plume behavior.
  • Particle deposition rates.
  • Available TOXSPOT post-processor for evaluation of metals and organic contamination of dredge spoils deposits.
The Sandusky River creates a density current sediment plume in Lake Erie.

USEPA has completed a Science Advisory Board (SAB) report of D-CORMIX and has recommended additional development and validation. A special research and evaluation version of D-CORMIX are available for purchase through MixZon Inc. Contact Robert L. Doneker for additional information.