A 3-D Current Model for Potential Scouring of Seabed around a Breakwater in Port of Taichung

Although scour has become a serious threat to breakwater structures, it is able to be predicted rapidly by applying the CFD numerical simulation, with low cost and high reliability. In the study, the numerical simulation of currents and wave fields, and wave-current interaction on flow fields were performed by the commercial code FLOW-3D® in purpose to investigate the causes of erosion by using data extracted from Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler as the requirements of tidal boundaries, a fixed-bed bottom boundary was generated by sounding data, and the harbor CAD physical model as the requirement of closing boundary. Moreover, sensitivity of both grid independence and numerical domain were tested to reach a steady flow field. The results of the study indicate that a contraction flow form at leeside of the breakwater during tidal cycle is conformed to currents data with numerical modeling. Furthermore, describe the distribution of velocity profiles, excess shear stress and tidal currents by visualization.