Study of Horizontal Bottom Velocities and Prediction of Sediment Transport behind a Submerged Breakwater

Abstract

Bottom horizontal velocity asymmetry and the resultant bottom sediment motion on the leeside of a submerged break water are examined. The laboratory tests are conducted with regular waves. In general the net bottom transport for the tested conditions is directed towards the shore behind the submerged breakwater. The sediment transport here is found to depend on the types of waves, whether they are regular or irregular, their height and the water level variation over the submerged breakwater. The use of irregular waves, which are closer to the real sea conditions, is recommended in similar investigations, as the information obtained from irregular and regular waves are different. The conditional total impulses method suggested by Longinov is found to be an effective tool in assessing the direction and intensity of net bottom water particle motion and the sediment transport.