scholarly journals AN HEURISTIC MODEL OF WAVE HEIGHT DISTRIBUTION IN SURF ZONE

1980 ◽  
Vol 1 (17) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Mizuguchi

Until now, almost every study on coastal processes has considered the basic type of two-dimensional beach profile as being of constant slope. However, as our knowledge on this problem advances, we realize the importance of the influences of the bottom configuration on the hydrodynamic phenomena in a given area. Figure 1 shows a recent experimental result on the longshore current profile on a step type beach. ( Here the step type beaches are defined as those which have a step in the bottom profile, whether the beaches are of accretion type or not.)

1988 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ib A. Svendsen ◽  
Rene S. Lorenz

The problem of combined cross-shore and longshore currents generated by waves in and around a surf zone is considered in its full three-dimensional formulation. The equations for the two current components are decoupled and it is found that for a cylindrical coast with no longshore variations the longshore current variation with depth and distance from the shoreline satisfies a Poisson equation. This equation is solved by a perturbation method and it is shown that the longshore velocities are always larger than the velocities found by classical theory. In the simple uncoupled case, the full 3-D current profile is constructed by combining the results with cross - shore velocities determined in previous publications. Also, the total velocities are larger than velocities found from simple depth averaged models.


1982 ◽  
Vol 1 (18) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Mase ◽  
Yuichi Iwagaki

The main purpose of this paper is to propose a model for prediction of the spatial distributions of representative wave heights and the frequency distributions of wave heights of irregular waves in shallow-water including the surf zone. In order to examine the validity of the model, some experiments of irregular wave transformation have been made. In addition, an attempt has been made to clarify the spatial distribution of wave grouping experimentally. Especially the present paper focuses finding the effects of the bottom slope and the deep-water wave steepness on the wave height distribution and wave grouping.


1986 ◽  
Vol 1 (20) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven K. Baum ◽  
David R. Basco

A numerical model is developed which calculates the longshore current profile for an arbitrary bottom profile. The basis of the model is the use of radiation stress theory in a longshore momentum balance equation which includes a driving stress, a bottom stress, and a lateral mixing stress. Each of the stresses is derived from previously developed formulations, rederiving them to take into account separate cross shore variations in the wave height and the water depth, as well as the wave approach angle. This is done to dispense with the constant wave breaking index assumption used to model wave decay in the surf zone, which is rejected as unrealistic for natural beaches. A numerical model is used to calculate distributions of the wave height and water depth across the surf zone for arbitrary, yet realistic, bottom profiles. A numerical model of the theoretically derived longshore momentum balance equation is developed and solved using the distributions obtained from the wave decay model. The profiles calculated are compared to previous theoretical models and to laboratory and field measurements.


1964 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Tsao-Yi Chiu ◽  
Per Bruun

This article introduces the longshore current computations based on theories published under the title "Longshore Currents and Longshore Troughs" (Bruun, 1963). Two approaches are used to formulate the longshore current velocities for a beach profile with one bar under the following assumptions: (1) that longshore current is evenly distributed (or a mean can be taken) along the depthj (2) that the solitary wave theory is applicable for waves in the surf zone; (3) that the statistical wave-height distribution for a deep water wave spectrum with a single narrow band of frequencies can be used near the shore, and (4) that the depth over the bar crest, Dcr, equal 0.8Hv/i /o\. Breaking wave height H^Q/^X is designated to be the actual height equal to Hw-j (significant wave height). Diagrams have been constructed for both approaches for beach profiles with one bar, from which longshore current velocities caused by various wave-breaking conditions can be read directly. As for longshore currents along the beach with a multibar system, fifteen diagrams covering a great variety of wave-breaking conditions are provided for obtaining longshore current velocities in different troughs.


1984 ◽  
Vol 1 (19) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
William G. McDougal ◽  
Robert T. Hudspeth

A variety of different lateral mixing models have been employed in the equation of motion for determining wave-induced longshore currents. The equation of motion is cast into a general form which enables a comparison of the various models. Analytic solutions for longshore currents are developed for seven different mixing models. A nonplanar beach profile is employed because it has been found to be representative of many beaches and it allows for a distinction between offshore and depth scaling of eddies. The seven different mixing models include models which vary monotonically with horizontal distance offshore and models which change form at the breaker line. Numerical results indicate that the longshore current profile is rather insensitive to the form of the mixing model for nonplanar beach profiles.


Author(s):  
Gerasimos A. Kolokythas ◽  
Athanassios A. Dimas

In the present study, the three-dimensional, incompressible, turbulent, free-surface flow, developing by the propagation and breaking of nonlinear gravity waves over a constant-slope beach, is numerically simulated. The main objective is to investigate the flow structure in the surf zone as a result of the interaction between the longshore and the undertow current, induced by spilling wave breaking, oblique to the shoreline. The simulations are performed employing the so-called large-wave simulation (LWS) method coupled with a numerical solver for the Navier-Stokes equations. According to the employed LWS methodology, large velocity and free-surface scales are fully resolved, while the effect of subgrid scales is modeled by eddy-viscosity stresses, similar to large-eddy simulation (LES) methodology. In order to validate our model, the case of incoming Stokes waves with wavelength to inflow depth ratio λ/dI ≈ 6.6 and wave steepness H/λ ≈ 0.025, propagating normal to the shore over a bed of constant slope 1/35, is investigated. Our results are compared to published experimental measurements, and it is found that the LWS model predicts adequately the wave breaking parameters — breaking height and depth — and the distribution of the undertow current in the surf zone. Two cases of oblique breaking waves, with inflow angles φI = 20° and 30°, and all other parameters identical to that of the validation case, are considered. The gradual breaking of the refracted waves is captured, as well as the three-dimensional structure of the flow in the surf zone. LWS-predicted profiles of the undertow and the longshore current at several positions in the surf zone, are presented. It is indicated that the undertow prevails in the outer surf zone, while the longshore current becomes stronger in the inner surf zone and reaches its maximum magnitude close to the shore.


1988 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas C. Kraus ◽  
Kathryn J. Gingerich ◽  
Julie Dean Rosati

This paper presents results of two field experiments performed using portable traps to obtain point measurements of the longshore sand transport rate in the surf zone. The magnitude of the transport rate per unit width of surf zone is found to depend on the product of the local wave height and mean longshore current speed, but correlation is much improved by including two correction terms, one accounting for local wave energy dissipation and the other for the fluctuation in the longshore current. The field transport rates are also found to be compatible with laboratory rates obtained under combined unidirectional and oscillatory flow. Total transport rates previously reported for this experiment program are revised with recently determined sand trapping efficiencies.


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