Determination of bar parameters caused by cross-shore sediment movement

Waves, topographic features and material properties are known as the most important factors affecting the sediment movement and coastal profiles. In this study, considering wave height (H=6.5, 17, 16, 20, 23, 26 and 30 cm) and period (T=1.46 and 2.03 s), bed slope (m=1/10, 1/15 and 1/25) and sediment diameter (d50=0.18, 0.26, 0.33 and 0.40 mm), cross-shore sediment movement was investigated using a physical model and various offshore bar geometric parameters were determined by the resultant erosion profile. The offshore bar geometric characteristics are the distance between the bar crest and the shoreline, the depth from bar crest to the still-water level, the distance between the equilibrium point and the shoreline, the distance between the closure point and the shoreline, and the bar volume. Dimensional and non-dimensional equations were obtained by using non-linear regression methods through the experimental data and compared with those of previously developed equations. The results have indicated that the proposed equations fit to experimental data better than previously developed equations. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved