Integration of soil mechanics in numerical models of surf zone beach processes via joint field obser
Abstract
Geotechnical properties and soil mechanics have been related to sediment erodibility in foreshore environments. Initial studies docu,mented significant variations in geotechnical surface sediment strength in response to changes in hydrodynamic forcing and geomorpho,dynamics, representing a possible hazard for the prediction of trafficability, large sediment mobilization from extreme events, and,sediment-infrastructure interaction. The variability of geotechnical seabed surface sediment properties may also lead to issues with, the accurate interpretation of acoustic seabed surveying efforts. However, obtaining geotechnical properties through traditional me,thods of field and laboratory testing can be challenged by accessibility of sites and environmental conditions. Novel field methodol,ogies, specifically leveraging remote sensing, offer solutions to those challenges; however, the implementation of soil mechanics in, numerical modelling of geomorphodynamics has the potential to offer predictions of geotechnical properties based on geomorphologica,l change to possibly minimize the need for field data. While significant progress has been made to advance the modeling of the coupl,ed hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and morphodynamics, incorporating the effects of geotechnical properties in nearshore morphody,namic modeling remains at its infancy. The proposed work aims at understanding the relationship between local geomorphodynamics and,sediment surface strength by analyzing and collecting field data, and improving numerical modeling tools with the following objectiv,es: (1) Analyzing and preparing existing field data of geotechnical properties for numerical model validation; (2) Performing new fi,eld experiments supported by laboratory soil characterization specifically designed to advance fine-scale and regional scale models, soil mechanics capability; (3) Evaluate the sensitivity of short-wave-averaged regional-scale morphodynamic model XBeach for variou,s parameterizationsrelevant to sediment transport and erodibility; (4) Improving and validating the free-surface resolving Eulerian,two-phase modeling framework, SedFoam, for simulating sediment transport under waves with proper geotechnical seabed properties to i,mprove erodibility related sub-models in XBeach; and (5) Assess and evaluate the relationship between geotechnical properties and l,ocal geomorphodynamics in the surf zone during storm events via a synthesis of observational data, fine-scale and regional-scale mod,el data. This will be a key step towards the prediction of rapid beach evolution and the associated variations in seabed soil streng,th and textural seabed properties due to storms by integrating soil mechanics into regional-scale morphodynamic models with the aim,of assisting with model calibrations for acoustic surveying and navigation, as well as with trafficability assessment from remote se,nsing. The proposed work is a collaborative effort with PI Stark from Virginia Tech, researchers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,, and the Naval Research Lab. Approved for Public Release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212412
Entities
People
- Tian-jian Hsu
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Delaware