Dependence of Total Longshore Sediment Transport Rates on Incident Wave Parameters and Breaker Type

Abstract

Abstract Experiments were conducted in the Large-scale Sediment Transport Facility (LSTF) at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to investigate the importance of wave height, period, and breaker type (spilling and plunging breakers) on total rate of longshore sediment transport (LST) and the cross-shore distribution of LST. Estimates computed by the CERC formula and Kamphius were compared to the accurately measured total LST rates. Several K-values were used with the CERC formula, including the recommended value of 0.39 and calculated values by Kamphuis and Readshaw, Ozhan, Bailard, and Del Valle et al. The recommended K-value and most of the calculated K-values overpredicted the measured total LST rates, but methods that included parameters to indicate breaker type gave good estimates. The Kamphuis and Readshaw equation, in which K is a function of surf similarity parameter, gave consistent estimates with measurements. The Kamphuis equation, which includes wave period and beach slope t...