Modelling of Digitally Imaged Water Levels and Flow Fields in the Surf Zone

The measurement of mean water levels, roller geometries and the phase averaged velocity and turbulence intensity fields under spilling and plunging waves breaking in a 2D laboratory surf zone is presented. The paper further describes the analysis of measured parameters and their comparison against predictions from numerical models, demonstrating the value of the technique for model validation purposes. The velocities were measured using digital correlation image velocimetry (DCIV) whilst water levels and roller geometries were determined through grey scale filtering of video images. The phase ensemble-averaged horizontal and vertical components of velocity and turbulence intensities are measured throughout the entire flow domain, including the aerated wave roller.