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NUMERICAL MODELING OF SHORELINES By making reasonable engineering assumptions numerical modeling can often be accomplished without utilizing an extensive (possibly expensive) modeling system such as GENESIS. Example 1: In this scenerio a simple comparison is provided of a shoreline response for a beach fill placed on a short (10,000 meter long) barrier island subject to wave action reaching the shore at a normal angle. Comparisons of the shoreline response for an initial 50 meter wide fill after a given time is shown (Figure 1) for: (a)the fill without any structures; and, (b) the fill placed with a nearshore breakwater system consisting of three breakwaters centered in the middle of the barrier island (i.e. three 300 meter long structures with 300 meter gaps between the breakwaters). As would be expected (and shown in Figure 1), the fill width with the breakwater protection furnished has more material left within the original fill placement area at the end of the specified time period. Example 2: In this scenerio a beach fill with a groin structure (of length same as the initial fill width) at the right end of the fill section has been placed on an eroding shoreline (at initial time t=0) where the erosion rate is specified as 2 feet/year. The evolution (with time) of the shoreline after the fill was placed is shown in Figure 2. An additional look at the effect of an alongshore gradient in transport is given here. Should you have any questions concerning numerical modeling of shorelines for your specific project needs call: Todd Walton, Ph.D., P.E. (850-644-2847). © Copyright 2001 Todd L. Walton Jr.
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