APPLICATION OF A SEDIMENT TRANSPORT MODEL

A mathematical model for sediment transport under waves has been developed from concepts that have been used successfully for unidirectional flow. This model has been combined interactively with numerical models of wave refraction, wave diffraction, longshore currents and circulation currents in order to predict local topographical changes in the vicinity of a cooling water intake basin for a nuclear power station. The sediment model is calibrated using field data of sediment concentration profiles. Verification and adjustments may be made by analysing deep water wave statistics corresponding to periodic beach and hydrographic surveys. The model can be used to investigate the effects of any wave climate and consequently different layouts of coastal structures can be examined very rapidly. For the particular problem considered it was necessary to optimise the configuration of the breakwaters forming a cooling water intake basin in order to minimise the sediment concentration at the intake, estimate maintenance dredging quantities and investigate extreme events.