The Shields parameter, often denoted by the Greek letter \( \tau^* \), is a dimensionless quantity used in sediment transport and fluid mechanics to characterize the initiation of sediment motion under flow conditions. It quantifies the ratio of the shear stress acting on the sediment bed to the gravitational forces acting on the sediment particles.
Articles by others on the same topic
The Shields parameter is , comparing bed shear stress with a grain-scale submerged weight per area. Its critical value depends on the assumed drag coefficient, static friction, lift, and contact geometry.