Efficient and robust wave overtopping estimation for impermeable coastal structures in shallow foreshores using SWASH
Suzuki, T.; Altomare, C.; Veale, W.; Verwaest, T.; Trouw, K.; Troch, P.; Zijlema, M. (2017). Efficient and robust wave overtopping estimation for impermeable coastal structures in shallow foreshores using SWASH. Coast. Eng. 122: 108-123. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2017.01.009 In: Coastal Engineering: An International Journal for Coastal, Harbour and Offshore Engineers. Elsevier: Amsterdam; Lausanne; New York; Oxford; Shannon; Tokyo. ISSN 0378-3839; e-ISSN 1872-7379, more |  |
| Author keywords | SWASH; Wave overtopping; Impermeable coastal structures; Instantaneous overtopping |
| Abstract | Estimation of wave overtopping over the crest of coastal structures is crucial to design effective and cost efficientcountermeasures against storms. Semi-empirical formulas are often used for wave overtopping assessment, butthey are not always applicable for complex structures which exist in reality (e.g. a storm wall on a dike in ashallow or very shallow foreshore). Detailed numerical models such as Eulerian and Lagrangian RANS modelshave potential to simulate overtopping of complex coastal structures with good accuracy. However such modelsrequire significant computational resources. The use of such models is often not feasible for the design of coastalstructures, which often requires multiple iterations and model runs over a reasonably long period of time (e.g.wave trains with 1000 individual waves). In this paper we investigated the applicability of the simplified depthintegrated wave transformation model SWASH for wave overtopping estimation of impermeable coastalstructures in shallow foreshores. The validation results demonstrate the capability of SWASH to predict meanwave overtopping discharge with good accuracy compared to results from four different overtoppingexperimental campaigns (comprising 124 individual cases). The overall performance of SWASH to estimatemean wave overtopping discharge is as accurate as those obtained by semi-empirical equations in literature.However, in order to obtain accurate mean wave overtopping discharge with the SWASH model, the incidentwave properties at the toe of the dike need to be accurately reproduced. For cases where this is not possible, acorrection method is proposed in this paper. Detailed validation of the instantaneous wave overtopping alsoshows a good agreement with physical model data. In one example, a single, intensive overtopping event was notwell resolved by the SWASH model and the instantaneous wave overtopping was under-predicted. However,this did not contribute significantly to the mean wave overtopping discharge. An additional advantage of theSWASH model is that specific coastal structure geometries can be modelled in SWASH if they are not covered bysemi-empirical equations. Even in a case with rapidly varied flow (e.g. vertical wall on a dike) the model showssufficient robustness. In this paper the details on the SWASH model configuration and post processing methodsare outlined to enable the reader to reproduce reliable wave overtopping estimation over impermeable coastalstructures in shallow foreshores. |
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