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Tidal inlet stability in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic conditions

Tidal inlet stability in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic conditions
Tidal inlet stability in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic conditions
Factors controlling tidal inlet stability are analysed and the general dynamic behaviour of an inlet in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic conditions are discussed, using an example from Christchurch Harbour (southern England). A technique is developed for the estimation of current speeds within the entrance channel, on the basis of the definition of the “apparent” basin area. The results show that: (1) the Image ratio as one of stability criteria can be extended to include the influences of the characteristics of tides and freshwater discharges; (2) for inlet systems characterised by small flood and ebb tidal deltas and a pattern of by-passing of sediments due to tidal currents, the equilibrium cross-sectional area can be determined analytically; (3) the ratio of the difference between flood and ebb sediment discharges within the entrance to longshore sediment flux (i.e. the parameter k defined in the present study) can be used as a stability criterion; and (4) the evolution of an inlet system in response to an increase in longshore sediment flux appears to be characterised by a decrease in AE and a constant k value in early stages, but by a slow change in AE and a decrease in k in later stages (hence, these two stability criteria can be combined to describe the inlet behaviours in response to sediment movement, for different stages of evolution).
0378-3839
61-80
Gao, Shu
467252e2-525c-4729-8e99-b98cde7ee1d9
Collins, Michael
3b70278b-0004-45e0-b3c9-0debdf0a9351
Gao, Shu
467252e2-525c-4729-8e99-b98cde7ee1d9
Collins, Michael
3b70278b-0004-45e0-b3c9-0debdf0a9351

Gao, Shu and Collins, Michael (1994) Tidal inlet stability in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic conditions. Coastal Engineering, 23 (1-2), 61-80. (doi:10.1016/0378-3839(94)90015-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Factors controlling tidal inlet stability are analysed and the general dynamic behaviour of an inlet in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic conditions are discussed, using an example from Christchurch Harbour (southern England). A technique is developed for the estimation of current speeds within the entrance channel, on the basis of the definition of the “apparent” basin area. The results show that: (1) the Image ratio as one of stability criteria can be extended to include the influences of the characteristics of tides and freshwater discharges; (2) for inlet systems characterised by small flood and ebb tidal deltas and a pattern of by-passing of sediments due to tidal currents, the equilibrium cross-sectional area can be determined analytically; (3) the ratio of the difference between flood and ebb sediment discharges within the entrance to longshore sediment flux (i.e. the parameter k defined in the present study) can be used as a stability criterion; and (4) the evolution of an inlet system in response to an increase in longshore sediment flux appears to be characterised by a decrease in AE and a constant k value in early stages, but by a slow change in AE and a decrease in k in later stages (hence, these two stability criteria can be combined to describe the inlet behaviours in response to sediment movement, for different stages of evolution).

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Published date: May 1994

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 192485
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/192485
ISSN: 0378-3839
PURE UUID: cc266c0a-fc2d-4a0c-9bd5-d7947aea8286

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2011 15:54
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:50

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Contributors

Author: Shu Gao
Author: Michael Collins

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