EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON BEACH MORPHODYNAMICAL PROCESS NEAR RIVER MOUTH

Abstract

Physical model study on wave influences on river-mouth depositional process is presented. Experiments were performed in a wave basin in order to determine erosion and accretion area due to the combined wave – current flows. An inflow glass channel was designed to reproduce a river mouth model in a 3D wave basin made with a sand bottom. The tests were carried out under three different conditions: river current, waves, wave –current interaction. Measurements of wave heights, beach profiles and bathymetric profiles were made. The results show that in the presence of combined wave-current flows, erosion areas are more evident in vicinity of a mouth with depth and width values greater than depth and width values of inflow channel.