Status quo and prospect of research on erodibility of viscous sediments

Sediment erodibility is an important research issue of depositional dynamics, which is of great significance in dynamic geomorphology, marine engineering safety, and ecological protection. In this paper, we summarized the research results of erodibility of cohesive sediments in the past 60 years from three aspects: measurement methods of sediment erodibility, sediment erodibility empirical modelling, and influencing factors of the erodibility. Although many previous studies have been done on the erodibility and influencing factors of cohesive sediments with considerable achievements, due to the multi-factor influence from physical and chemical properties, sedimentary environment, and biological process, the erodibility of cohesive sediments is a complex and difficult issue of study. Therefore, data obtained from different research results are not well comparable, which greatly hampered the applicability of empirical models of erodibility of cohesive sediments. By reviewing the status quo of regarding scientific problems, we proposed the future direction of research on the erodibility of cohesive sediments and suggested that more comprehensive and systematic laboratory and field research shall be carried out to improve the accuracy and objectivity of erodibility determination and its influencing factor identification through comprehensive research by various methods. At the same time, under the theoretical guidance, technological innovation and interdisciplinary integration research, the formation mechanism and theoretical quantification of the adhesion shall be deeply discussed to modify and improve the erodibility empirical model of cohesive sediments.