Abstract: Recovery of suspended sediment concentration along the river downstream of reservoir is a core subject in river dynamics research. The research in this area helps to push the advances of river dynamics and solve problems in engineering application. In this article, the research achievements of vertical distribution of sediment concentration under equilibrium and non-equilibrium transport conditions are summarized. The observed data of suspended sediment concentration recovery along natural channels and the research results of recovery saturation coefficient are also concluded. Research on vertical distribution of sediment concentration under non-equilibrium state is still defective. The methods of observed data acquisition and data analysis also need to be improved. Finally, scientific and systematic flume experiments with accurate measuring instruments should be conducted in further studies.

Key words: suspended sediment, non-equilibrium sediment transport, vertical distribution of sediment concentration, coefficient of recovery saturation, research advances