In a recent seminar, Enrique Fernández Nieto, Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Seville, presented groundbreaking research on sediment transport modelling. Invited by CERIS researcher Prof. Rui Ferreira, his talk focused on two critical geophysical processes: bedload and suspended load sediment transport, which are crucial for understanding natural phenomena in rivers and estuaries and vital for various industrial applications, including mineral processing, wastewater treatment, and hydraulic infrastructure design.
Fernández Nieto introduced the Saint-Venant-Exner models, which include gravitational effects in bedload sediment transport. He explained the complexities of deriving a parabolic-degenerated non-linear equation using the effective Shields parameter. His team developed a semi-implicit method for solving this model efficiently. Fernández Nieto also explored the modelling of sediment suspension, incorporating polydisperse suspensions, and discussed various numerical approximation techniques for these models.
Currently collaborating with CERIS researchers Rui Ferreira and Solange Mendes, and LNEC researchers Sílvia Amaral and Ricardo Jónatas, Fernández Nieto’s research is also focused on dam-breach modelling—an essential area for improving the safety and environmental management of hydraulic structures.
The presentation provided valuable insights for engineers and researchers working on river rehabilitation, hydraulic structures, and environmental protection.
