Sediment gravity flow—the conceptual problems

The term sediment gravity flow was introduced to describe the major flow types involved in resedimentation processes and was defined as the flow of sediments or sediment–fluid mixture in which the interstitial fluid is driven by the grains moving under the action of gravity. Critical analysis of respective flow mechanism reveals that these flow types markedly depart from the definitive properties of a sediment gravity flow, and the possibility of natural existence of a sediment gravity flow sensu stricto appears doubtful. The flow types classified as sediment gravity flow are also different enough from each other to be considered under a single category based on flow mechanism, and a more general term, high-density flow, is proposed here as a rational alternative to designate them. Attempts made to classify these flows on the basis of rheologic properties also suffer from some serious limitations. Besides these basic problems, improper uses of different terminology cause problems in understanding these high-density flows. Critical review, however, leads to conclude that each of these flow types can be identified as a distinct segment of a continuous spectrum of high-density flows, and the process of transformation from one variety to the other often comes into existence. Even within a single flow, different parts may show distinct flow character developed through the process of flow transformation. An empirical relationship between these flow types thus can be established with reference to the grain/water ratio and grain composition, which broadly controls character and rheology of a specific variety or different parts of a composite flow. An attempt is made here to accommodate the high-density flows involved in resedimentation processes within a general classification of aqueous flows.