Abstract: Laboratory self-weight sedimentation tests were conducted on two types of dredged slurry with varying initial water contents and initial sand contents, using different-sized apparatuses to investigate particle sorting characteristics in dredged slurry containing coarse particles during self-weight sedimentation. The study examined the effects of initial particle distribution, initial sand content, and initial water content on the particle sorting threshold of dredged slurry during sedimentation, and identified the key controlling parameters for the particle sorting threshold. The distribution of coarse particles along the specimen height after the completion of self-weight sedimentation was analyzed, and a method for determining the coarse particle sorting interface height was proposed. By normalizing the coarse particle sorting interface height with the stabilized mud-water interface height, a unique linear relationship was established between the normalized coarse particle sorting interface height and the initial sand content, regardless of differences in initial particle distribution or water content. Furthermore, the distribution of fine particles in the sediment layer below the sorting interface was examined, and the key relevant influencing factors were discussed. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the design of dredged slurry storage ponds considering the particle sorting effect.

Key words: dredged slurry containing coarse particles, particle sorting, self-weight sedimentation, coarse particle sorting interface, normalized analysis