Prediction of bed ripple geometry under controlled wave conditions: wave-flume experiments and MIKE21 numerical simulations

Abstract

Laboratory experiments using a wave flume were designed to examine the characteristics of ripple formed on a sandy bed. Ripples were formed on the sediment surface under a variety of surface wave conditions for a period of 33min. Profile measurements were taken all over the flume for each wave conditions. Examples of data collected by the sand ripple profiler after these experiments are presented, showing the sand ripple profiles under variety of wave conditions. In order to evaluate the experimental data, MIKE 21/3 Coupled Model FM numerical model was run with the same initial and boundary conditions.