Longshore Current and Sediment Transport on Beaches
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 4
Abstract
A numerical model based on the time-averaged continuity, cross-shore momentum, longshore momentum, and energy equations is developed to predict the cross-shore variations of the mean and standard deviation of the free surface elevation and depth-averaged cross-shore and longshore velocities under obliquely incident irregular breaking waves. The suspended sediment volume per unit horizontal area is estimated using the computed energy dissipation rates due to wave breaking and bottom friction. The longshore suspended sediment transport rate is estimated as the product of the longshore current and suspended sediment volume. The developed model is compared with limited field and laboratory data. The calibrated model is in fair agreement with the data. The longshore suspended sediment transport rate is shown to be approximately proportional to the square of the longshore current. The developed model appears promising but will need to be evaluated using extensive data sets.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Sea Grant, Department of Commerce, under Grant No. UNSPECIFIEDNA85AA-D-SG033 (Projects R/OE-33 and R/ETE-7). The writers acknowledge the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for permission to publish this paper. Support for Bradley D. Johnson was provided through the Advanced Nearshore Circulation work unit of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navigation Systems Research Program. The writers would like to thank reviewers for their thorough reviews.
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© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 16, 2005
Accepted: May 1, 2006
Published online: Jul 1, 2007
Published in print: Jul 2007
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