HURRICANE STUDIES FOR NARRAGANSETT BAY

Abstract

Hurricane flooding has emerged as one of the major coastal engineering problems of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast areas of the United States. Engineering and scientific investigations have been made to determine the fundamental mechanics of the hurricane surges that cause inunda tion of coastal areas and to develop practical and economical protection. Mathematical models and large hydraulic models were used for the Narragansett Bay studies of two major projects. The discussions presented herein are limited to the hydraulic studies of barriers at the mouth of the bay, known as the Lower Bay Barri Plan, and a brief description of this plan and the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier which is now under construction.