• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-60
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• 2016

The major objective of this study was to develop further understanding of 3D nearshore hydrodynamics under a variety of wave and tidal forcing conditions. The main tool used was a comprehensive 3D numerical model - combining the flow module of Delft3D with the WAVE solver of XBeach - of nearshore hydro- and morphodynamics that can simulate flow, sediment transport, and morphological evolution. Surf-swash zone hydrodynamics were modeled using the 3D Navier-Stokes equations, combined with various turbulence models (${\kappa}-{\varepsilon}$, ${\kappa}-L$, ATM and H-LES). Sediment transport and resulting foreshore profile changes were approximated using different sediment transport relations that consider both bed- and suspended-load transport of non-cohesive sediments. The numerical set-up was tested against field data, with good agreement found. Different numerical experiments under a range of bed characteristics and incident wave and tidal conditions were run to test the model's capability to reproduce 3D flow, wave propagation, sediment transport and morphodynamics in the nearshore at the field scale. The results were interpreted according to existing understanding of surf and swash zone processes. Our numerical experiments confirm that the angle between the crest line of the approaching wave and the shoreline defines the direction and strength of the longshore current, while the longshore current velocity varies across the nearshore zone. The model simulates the undertow, hydraulic cell and rip-current patterns generated by radiation stresses and longshore variability in wave heights. Numerical results show that a non-uniform seabed is crucial for generation of rip currents in the nearshore (when bed slope is uniform, rips are not generated). Increasing the wave height increases the peaks of eddy viscosity and TKE (turbulent kinetic energy), while increasing the tidal amplitude reduces these peaks. Wave and tide interaction has most striking effects on the foreshore profile with the formation of the intertidal bar. High values of eddy viscosity, TKE and wave set-up are spread offshore for coarser grain sizes. Beach profile steepness modifies the nearshore circulation pattern, significantly enhancing the vertical component of the flow. The local recirculation within the longshore current in the inshore region causes a transient offshore shift and strengthening of the longshore current. Overall, the analysis shows that, with reasonable hypotheses, it is possible to simulate the nearshore hydrodynamics subjected to oceanic forcing, consistent with existing understanding of this area. Part II of this work presents 3D nearshore morphodynamics induced by the tides and waves.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.549-564
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• 2015

The three-dimensional unsteady incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and k-${\varepsilon}$ double equations turbulent model were used to investigate the effect on the measurements of anemometers due to a passing high-speed train. Sliding mesh technology in Fluent was utilized to treat the moving boundary problem. The high-speed train considered in this paper was with bogies and inter-carriage gaps. Combined with the results of the wind tunnel test in a published paper, the accuracy of the present numerical method was validated to be used for further study. In addition, the difference of slipstream between three-car and eight-car grouping models was analyzed, and a series of numerical simulations were carried out to study the influences of the anemometer heights, the train speeds, the crosswind speeds and the directions of the induced slipstream on the measurements of the anemometers. The results show that the influence factors of the train-induced slipstream are the passing head car and tail car. Using the three-car grouping model to analyze the train-induced flow is reasonable. The maxima of horizontal slipstream velocity tend to reduce as the height of the anemometer increases. With the train speed increasing, the relationship between $V_{train}$ and $V_{induced\;slipstream}$ can be expressed with linear increment. In the absence of natural wind conditions, from the head car arriving to the tail car leaving, the induced wind direction changes about $330^{\circ}$, while under the crosswind condition the wind direction fluctuates around $-90^{\circ}$. With the crosswind speed increasing, the peaks of $V_X,{\mid}V_{XY}-V_{wind}{\mid}$ of the head car and that of $V_X$ of the tail car tend to enlarge. Thus, when anemometers are installed along high-speed railways, it is important to study the effect on the measurements of anemometers due to the train-induced slipstream.