EFFECTS OF DEPTH, BED SLOPE AND SCALING ON TIDAL CURRENTS AND EXCHANGE IN A LABORATORY MODEL HARBOUR

Details are given of the measured depth-averaged velocity distribution and exchange coefficients for a physical model of a square harbour with a single asymmetric entrance. The model was based on typical harbour shapes in the USA and the UK; the tidal conditions were typical of those in the UK. For these tests, emphasis was placed on determining the influence of the mean depth, bed slope and vertical scale distortion on the tidal current structure at mean water level, for both ebb and flood tides, and on the tidal exchange characteristics at the end of four tidal cycles. Velocity distributions were measured along the centre-line axes of the model, with the axes intersecting at the harbour centre. For the exchange values at 25 equidistant sites within the model harbour, for both horizontal and uniformly sloping beds. The results showed that the tidal exchange coefficient decreased with increasing mean depths and increased for increasing bed slopes. However, in connection with the effects of scaling, the results generally suggested that increased distortion appeared to lead to increased exchange coefficients. The comprehensive data set also provided valuable verification data for numerical hydrodynamic water quality models.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Inst Civil Engrs Procs, Pt 2 Res & Theory, v 91, Sept 1991, p 561 [16 p, 7 ref, 6 tab, 8 fig]
• Authors:
  • Falconer, R A
  • Yu, G
• Publication Date: 1991

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Depth; Slopes; Tidal currents; Velocity
• Old TRIS Terms: Harbour models; Velocity distribution
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00701419
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM