6.1. INTRODUCTION TO MOVABLE-BED MODELS
243
Figure 6.2: Three-Dimensional Movable-Bed Model of Scour at Structures.
The two major hydrodynamic forces of concern in coastal sediment
transport physical models are wind waves and currents. Sediment will
respond by moving along the bed as bedload, by being lifted into the water column and moved by the fluid as suspended load, or by moving in
a mode that is a mixture of the two. A totally correct model would be
able to maintain similitude of both bedload and suspended load, as well
as being able to scale the incipient motion of the sediment particles. Unfortunately, there will probably never be a “completely correct” sediment
transport physical model at any scale smaller than prototype.
A completely quantitative movable-bed model investigation of
coastal erosion appears to be impractical within the present stateof-the-art. However, movable-bed scale-model investigations of
several types of coastal erosion problems are feasible and can
be conducted in such a way that useful, and sufficiently accurate, information can be obtained for design purposes^. (Hudson, et al. 1979).
2 Hudson, et al. list many early studies of successful movable-bed models conducted
between the years 1940 - 1975.
243
Figure 6.2: Three-Dimensional Movable-Bed Model of Scour at Structures.
The two major hydrodynamic forces of concern in coastal sediment
transport physical models are wind waves and currents. Sediment will
respond by moving along the bed as bedload, by being lifted into the water column and moved by the fluid as suspended load, or by moving in
a mode that is a mixture of the two. A totally correct model would be
able to maintain similitude of both bedload and suspended load, as well
as being able to scale the incipient motion of the sediment particles. Unfortunately, there will probably never be a “completely correct” sediment
transport physical model at any scale smaller than prototype.
A completely quantitative movable-bed model investigation of
coastal erosion appears to be impractical within the present stateof-the-art. However, movable-bed scale-model investigations of
several types of coastal erosion problems are feasible and can
be conducted in such a way that useful, and sufficiently accurate, information can be obtained for design purposes^. (Hudson, et al. 1979).
2 Hudson, et al. list many early studies of successful movable-bed models conducted
between the years 1940 - 1975.