Abstract
Purpose Bedload transport discharge is important in river engineering and morphodynamics. The Meyer-Peter and Müller
(MPM) equation for determining bedload transport rates that was introduced in 1948 is still widely used in basic and applied
engineering practise. An employment of the MPM equation for sand bed rivers is rarely observed as it usually performs well for
gravel-bed rivers. The MPM equation was improved by introducing a correction factor considering the effects of the bedform and
sediment mixture.
Materials and methods Field measurements of bedload transport rates at 64 cross sections of different sites along the Nile River
in Egypt were collected and employed to enhance the prediction of bedload transport rates based on the MPM formula.
Furthermore, independent laboratory experiments were executed in a straight sand bed flume to verify the modified form of
the MPM equation and to extend its application range.
Results and discussion The MPM equation was improved by introducing a correction factor considering the effects of the
bedform and sediment mixture. The accuracy of several sediment transport formulas (Meyer-Peter and Müller 1948; Frijlink
1952; Wong and Parker 2006; van Rijn 1984; modified Abdel-Fattah 2004; Huang 2010) was also evaluated using cumulative
field measurements. Results suggest that the modified MPM equation is more suitable for the Nile River conditions than are
the other tested equations.
Conclusions The study results indicate that the modified MPM equation can predict the bedload transport rates under the Nile
River conditions with high accuracy.