Modelling of Harbour and Coastal Structures

The world’s coasts are being continuously reshaped by the interplay between natural- and human-induced pressures [...

An Integrated Numerical Model for the Design of Coastal Protection Structures

In the present work, an integrated coastal engineering numerical model is presented. The model simulates the linear wave propagation, wave-induced circulation, and sediment transport and bed morphology evolution. It consists of three main modules: WAVE_L, WICIR, and SEDTR. The nearshore wave transformation module WAVE_L (WAVE_Linear) is based on the hyperbolic-type mild slope equation and is valid for a compound linear wave field near coastal structures where the waves are subjected to the combined effects of shoaling, refraction, diffraction, reflection (total and partial), and breaking. Radiation stress components (calculated from WAVE_L) drive the depth averaged circulation module WICIR (Wave Induced CIRculation) for the description of the nearshore wave-induced currents. Sediment transport and bed morphology evolution in the nearshore, surf, and swash zone are simulated by the SEDTR (SEDiment TRansport) module. The model is tested against experimental data to study the effect of representative coastal protection structures and is applied to a real case study of a coastal engineering project in North Greece, producing accurate and consistent results for a versatile range of layouts

Boussinesq modeling of wave run-up and overtopping

Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Hydroscience and Engineering, Philadelphia, PA, September 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1860/732In this study, wave overtopping of coastal structures in the surf zone is investigated numerically. Simulations are performed with the use of a Boussinesq-type model. The model incorporates high-order equations with improved dispersion characteristics. These equations are capable of modeling dispersive wave propagation even in deep water conditions. Wave breaking and bottom friction are also included in the model while a linear extrapolation technique is used to describe wave run-up on steep slopes. Model results are evaluated using experimental measurements conducted in wave flumes. Tests involving wave run-up on a plane beach and wave overtopping of permeable and impermeable breakwaters are considered. The analysis demonstrates that the model results had good agreements with the experiments except for some deficiencies in cases of complex flow structures

Simulation of tsunami generation, propagation and coastal inundation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In the present work, an advanced tsunami generation, propagation and coastal inundation 2-DH model (i.e. 2-D Horizontal model) based on the higher-order Boussinesq equations - developed by the authors - is applied to simulate representative earthquake-induced tsunami scenarios in the Eastern Mediterranean. Two areas of interest were selected after evaluating tsunamigenic zones and possible sources in the region: one at the southwest of the island of Crete in Greece and one at the east of the island of Sicily in Italy. Model results are presented in the form of extreme water elevation maps, sequences of snapshots of water elevation during the propagation of the tsunamis, and inundation maps of the studied low-lying coastal areas. This work marks one of the first successful applications of a fully nonlinear model for the 2-DH simulation of tsunami-induced coastal inundation; acquired results are indicative of the model's capabilities, as well of how areas in the Eastern Mediterranean would be affected by eventual larger events