Hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic modifications of tidal flow in the near-field area of offshore breakwaters
Hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic modifications of tidal flow in the near-field area of offshore breakwaters
Numerical modeling was used in order to study the effect of tidal currents within a breakwater scheme that has reached morphodynamic equilibrium. Tidal flow is simulated, using a downscaling procedure from a regional numerical model, in order to investigate the small-scale hydrodynamic modifications caused by the structures in the absence of waves. Sediment transport processes at different stages of the neap and spring tidal cycle are also considered over the entire scheme. Significant modifications to the tidal currents were identified, caused by the presence of the following structures: (1) obstruction of the main tidal flow and (2) flow channelization between the structures and the coastline, leading to flow acceleration over the salients. Furthermore, the effect of the modified tidal regime on bedload sediment transport processes was investigated. The design characteristics of the scheme (i.e., gap width, offshore distance, and relative angle with respect to the tidal currents) are found to influence locally the tidal flow and the bedload transport, over the top of the salients, modulating their growth. Despite being located in a mixed-energy, wave-dominated environment, the shear stress ratio between currents and waves show a dominance of tidal processes at the sheltered areas of the scheme (i.e., behind the breakwaters) that diminishes as the incident wave period increases. Hence, in order to correctly predict the morphological evolution of such coast under the influence of coastal protection schemes, the tidal processes have to be studied in addition to the wave processes.
225-241
Plomaritis, Theocharis A.
9d1898a5-a79b-412e-89c6-6bee90ea606d
Collins, Michael B.
3b70278b-0004-45e0-b3c9-0debdf0a9351
March 2013
Plomaritis, Theocharis A.
9d1898a5-a79b-412e-89c6-6bee90ea606d
Collins, Michael B.
3b70278b-0004-45e0-b3c9-0debdf0a9351
Plomaritis, Theocharis A. and Collins, Michael B.
(2013)
Hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic modifications of tidal flow in the near-field area of offshore breakwaters.
Ocean Dynamics, 63 (2-3), .
(doi:10.1007/s10236-013-0592-6).
Abstract
Numerical modeling was used in order to study the effect of tidal currents within a breakwater scheme that has reached morphodynamic equilibrium. Tidal flow is simulated, using a downscaling procedure from a regional numerical model, in order to investigate the small-scale hydrodynamic modifications caused by the structures in the absence of waves. Sediment transport processes at different stages of the neap and spring tidal cycle are also considered over the entire scheme. Significant modifications to the tidal currents were identified, caused by the presence of the following structures: (1) obstruction of the main tidal flow and (2) flow channelization between the structures and the coastline, leading to flow acceleration over the salients. Furthermore, the effect of the modified tidal regime on bedload sediment transport processes was investigated. The design characteristics of the scheme (i.e., gap width, offshore distance, and relative angle with respect to the tidal currents) are found to influence locally the tidal flow and the bedload transport, over the top of the salients, modulating their growth. Despite being located in a mixed-energy, wave-dominated environment, the shear stress ratio between currents and waves show a dominance of tidal processes at the sheltered areas of the scheme (i.e., behind the breakwaters) that diminishes as the incident wave period increases. Hence, in order to correctly predict the morphological evolution of such coast under the influence of coastal protection schemes, the tidal processes have to be studied in addition to the wave processes.
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Published date: March 2013
Organisations:
Geology & Geophysics
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Local EPrints ID: 349376
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/349376
ISSN: 1616-7341
PURE UUID: 6da3f7d9-a610-4c05-84f0-c870be839b4d
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Date deposited: 01 Mar 2013 09:53
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:12
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Author:
Theocharis A. Plomaritis
Author:
Michael B. Collins
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