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CHAPTER 5. COASTAL STRUCTURE MODELS
Figure 5.2: Typical Two-Dimensional Coastal Structure Model.
3. Structure performance criteria such as allowable damage
level, maximum wave runup, wave transmission, etc., during exposure to design wave and water level conditions.
4. Bathymetric details of the surrounding area (3-d) or the
wave approach direction (2-d) so that a representative bottom configuration can be constructed in the model. Good
quality bathymetric data will assure that wave transformation is well simulated in the model.
5. Any other criteria pertaining to the structure’s purpose
and function.
The complexity of the hydrodynamic interactions that occur at coastal
structures requires that care be taken when using the physical model as
a design tool. Our lack of understanding has concentrated our efforts on
observing macro-scale features of the processes in prototype and in model,
and attempting to link major parameters of the processes to stability and
response characteristics of the structure (Jensen 1989).