Midscale Physical Model Validation for Scour at Coastal Structures

Abstract

A 1-to-7.5 scale (midscale) movable-bed physical model was used to validate model scaling criteria selected as most appropriate for turbulence- dominated erosion of sediment by waves. Two-dimensional flume tests successfully reproduced profile evolution observed in prototype-scale wave flume tests conducted under both regular and irregular wave conditions. For the case of regular waves, a sloping concrete revetment was exposed, thus validating the scaling guidance for use in studying scour at coastal structures. Variations in experimental parameters were systematically examined. Comparisons between regular wave and irregular wave profile evolution indicated that best correspondence is achieved if the significant wave height equals the monochromatic wave height, although irregular wave profile evolution takes about twice as long. The impacts of a vertical seawall on profile change are briefly examined. Keywords: Beach erosion; Water front structures; Hydraulic models; Beach profiles; Coastal processes; Movable bed models; Scale models; Scour; Storm erosion.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA223573

Entities

People

  • Jimmy E. Fowler
  • Steven A. Hughes

Organizations

  • Coastal Engineering Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Civil Engineering
  • Coastal Engineering
  • Data Acquisition
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Grain Size
  • Laboratory Tests
  • Measurement
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Shores
  • Standing Waves
  • Test Facilities
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Verification Tests

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Marine Hydrodynamics