Modeling turbidity currents from a moving source: vehicle path optimization and polydispersity effects

We model turbidity currents generated by a moving source as applicable to particle clouds released by underwater vehicles such as those used in deep-sea dredging and mining. We use both the shallow-water approximation and box models to capture the dominant dynamics at play. Extending results obtained for a vehicle moving in a straight line, we consider more complex paths and determine how to minimize the impact of the moving vehicle on the surrounding environment. We also investigate the impact of polydispersity, considering both continuous and discrete particle size distributions.