How can I use the Critical Shear Stress in a practical application?
The CSS and grain size are essential components for calculating the Shields criterion of sediment erosion, between the Shields Parameter and the Grain Reynolds Number. Those parameters can be calculated once the flow characteristics, fluid velocities and densities, etc are known. See standard textbooks on sediment erosion for more information (for example, Soulsby (1997)). FAQ References: Blatt, H., Middleton, G.V. and Murray , R.C., 1980, Origin of sedimentary rocks (2d ed): Prentice-Hall, Inc., 782 p. British Admiralty, 1973, Chart 5011, Symbols and abbreviations used on Admiralty Charts (new series): Taunton, UK, The British Hydrographic Office. Folk, R.L., 1954, The distinction between grain size and mineral composition in sedimentary rock nomenclature: Journal of Geology, v. 62 no. 4, p. 344-359. Folk, R.L., 1974, The petrology of sedimentary rocks: Austin, Tex., Hemphill Publishing Co., 182 p. Goddard E.N., Trask, P.D., de Ford, R.K., Rove, O.N., Singewald, J.T. and Overbeck, R.M