Analytical Model of Incipient Breaching of Coastal Barriers
Abstract
A mathematical model is formulated to describe incipient breaching of coastal barrier islands. The model is based on the assumptions of idealized breach morphology and is in- tended to describe the growth of breaches prior to possible closure by longshore sediment transport. The two coupled, non-linear equations governing breach width and depth are solved analytically for special cases. The analytical solutions explicitly exhibit an expo- nential behavior in breach dimensions and reveal that the macroscale process of breach growth is controlled by seven variables: initial width and depth of the breach, equilibrium width and depth of the breach, width of the barrier island, and maximum or initial net sediment transport rates at the bottom and sides of the breach. The literature is reviewed to compile general properties of coastal breaches, and sensitivity testing shows the model to be compatible with those observations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA483149
Entities
People
- Nicholas C. Kraus
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center