Acoustic measurement and modeling of the vertical distribution of suspended sediment driven by waves and currents (M.S. Engineering Thesis)

摘要

With the rapid growth and development of barrier islands, understanding the long-termudstability of these islands is an integral part of future coastal planning. The overwash process isudthe largest influence on the long-term stability of these islands and thus a correspondingudunderstanding is of major importance. A laboratory experiment was undertaken to physicallyudmodel the wave and current forcing as they pertain to the overwash process. The physical modeludwas subjected to various storm conditions common to the occurrence of the overwash.udCombinations of wave height, wave period, and overwash depth were tested in an attempt toudisolate the significant parameters. Water surface gradients were also applied to observe theirudinfluence on the overwash process. Wave height, current, and bed profile measurements wereudtaken at different locations throughout the tank. In addition, wave height transformationudmodeling and mean current prediction were performed and compared to the laboratory results inudan attempt to model the overwash process through computer simulations. (Document has 132 pages)