Shoreline Response to a Single Transmissive Detached Breakwater

Criteria are presented for predicting the long-term shoreline response to a single detached breakwater. The criteria, expressed as two algebraic equations, distinguish tombolo formation, salient formation, and limited shoreline response, and were developed by calculationintensive application of the shoreline change numerical model GENESIS for a large number of wave conditions and structure configurations. A unique feature of the modeling effort is explicit incorporation of wave transmission at the structure. The two other major non-dimensional parameters in the criteria are the length of the structure divided by the average wavelength at the structure and the average deep-water significant wave height divided by the depth at the structure. Prediction of the generalized criteria agree with available field data.