Lower James River Circulation Study, Virginia: Evaluation of Craney Island Enlargement Alternatives

摘要

This report presents results from the numerical model investigation whose primary objective was to assess general changes in circulation, currents, and sedimentation associated with six proposed alternative expansion geometries of the Craney Island confined disposal facility. An additional objective of the study was to assess the effects of each of the six alternative geometries on the reported estuarine circulation cell (flow convergence) off Hampton Flats and Newport News Point. This numerical model investigation used the TABS-2 finite element numerical models RMA-2V for hydrodynamics and STUDH for sedimentation with a modified version of an existing numerical mesh of the Lower James River. Other information presently available regarding the estuarine circulation and flow convergence observed off Newport News Point and Hampton Flats was reviewed. Appendix A contains general information on the finite element method. A brief description of RMA-2V and STUDH appears in Appendices B and C, respectively.