Modelling the influence of spatially varying hydrodynamics on the cross-sectional stability of double inlet systems

The cross-sectional stability of double inlet systems is investigated using an exploratory model that combines Escoffier’s stability concept for the evolution of the inlet’s cross-sectional area with a two-dimensional, depth-averaged (2DH) hydrodynamic model for tidal flow. The model geometry consists of four rectangular compartments, each with a uniform depth, associated with the ocean, tidal inlets and basin. The water motion, forced by an incoming Kelvin wave at the ocean’s open boundary and satisfying the linear shallow water equations on the f -plane with linearised bottom friction, is in each compartment written as a superposition of eigenmodes, i.e. Kelvin and Poincaré waves. A collocation method is employed to satisfy boundary and matching conditions. The analysis of resulting equilibrium configurations is done using flow diagrams.

Model results show that internally generated spatial variations in the water motion are essential for the existence of stable equilibria with two inlets open. In the hydrodynamic model used in the paper, both radiation damping into the ocean and basin depth effects result in these necessary spatial variations. Coriolis effects trigger an asymmetry in the stable equilibrium cross-sectional areas of the inlets. Furthermore, square basin geometries generally correspond to significantly larger equilibrium values of the inlet cross-sections. These model outcomes result from a competition between a destabilising (caused by inlet bottom friction) and a stabilising mechanism (caused by spatially varying local pressure gradients over the inlets).

     

Modelling hydrodynamics in Yachiyo Lake using a non‐hydrostatic general circulation model with spatially and temporally varying meteorological conditions

In this study, a three‐dimensional (3D) non‐hydrostatic circulation model was applied to study the thermal structure, its evolution and water circulation of Yachiyo Lake in Hiroshima, Japan. The simulations were conducted for 1 month during July 2006. The meteorological forcing variables such as wind stress, surface atmospheric pressure and heat flux transfer through the lake surface were provided by an atmospheric mesoscale model run. The vertical mixing process of the lake was calculated using the Mellor‐Yamada turbulence model. The 1‐month numerical simulation revealed the wind‐induced currents of the lake, two gyres in the mid‐layer, and depth‐averaged monthly mean currents. Further numerical experiments studying the mechanism of the two gyres in the lake showed the important role of topography in gyre formation. The thermal structure of the lake and its evolution both in space and in time as predicted by the model showed very good agreement with the observed values and characteristics of Yachiyo Lake. The internal gravity waves, which are crucial for mixing in the stratified lake, are depicted by the vertical fluctuation of isotherms. Using the non‐dimensional gradient Richardson number, Yachiyo Lake was determined to be stable under strong stratification during the study period, and therefore very sensitive to wind stress. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling the hydrodynamics of offshore sandbanks

This paper describes the details of a quasi-three-dimensional model (3DBANK), which has been developed to investigate medium and long-term morphological evolution and development of offshore sandbanks. The model is based on a three-dimensional tidal module using the Galerkin-eigenfunction method, but also includes four sub-modules to compute: the instantaneous bedform characteristics from which the temporal and spatial variations of the shear stresses at the sea bed can be derived; the suspended sediment concentration through the water column; the bed-load and suspended sediment fluxes at a point-in-plan; and the resulting morphological changes, respectively. The model also includes the effects of the wind and waves at the sea surface, as well as the wave–current interaction (WCI), and operates with full hydrodynamic and morphodynamic interaction. The components of the model were tested against laboratory and field data, and the complete model was then applied to Middlekerke Bank off the Flemish coast where extensive field measurements were taken during the European Community (EC) funded Circulation and Sediment Transport Around Banks (CSTAB) Project using various advanced instrumentation including STABLE and HF OSCR. Comparisons of the model results with the field measurements and observations show that the model is capable of reproducing the current and wave-induced bedforms, bed roughness, tidal currents and tidal residuals around the sandbank satisfactorily, and can be used to study the long-term sandbank evolution under various offshore conditions. This paper, however, focuses on the hydrodynamic aspects of the model, while the details of the morphological components will be given in a companion paper.     

Sediment transport trends and cross-sectional stability of a lagoonal tidal inlet on the Central Coast of Vietnam

Lagoonal tidal inlets are a typical morphology of the Central Coast of Vietnam. Recently, navigation channels in these inlets have become increasingly threatened by siltation. This study analyses the relations between sediment distribution and transport trends (using the technique of Sediment Trend Analysis-STA■) in the lagoonal system of the De Gi inlet and then proposes appropriate countermeasures against sand deposition in the navigation channel. The STA identified three types of transport trends in the De Gi inlet, namely dynamic equilibrium, net accretion, and net erosion. Processes associated with the tidal prism have resulted in trends of sediment transport and deposition across the flood and ebb tidal shoals, which maintain a present cross-sectional area of about 1000m^2. However, longshore sediment transport from north to south resulting from northeast waves cause additional sand deposition in the channel. In addition, the effects of refraction associated with a nearby headland and jetty also increase sedimentation. These processes provide the main reasons for sediment deposition in the De Gi inlet. Short term and regular dredging helps to maintain the navigation channel. A system comprised of three jetties (north, south, and weir) is necessary to ensure the longterm cross-sectional stability of the navigation channel.     

Stochastic deamplification of spatially varying seismic motions

The spatial and temporal characteristics exhibited by earthquake ground motions at points below the soil surface have important implications for both deeply embedded structures and for spatially extended constructed facilities. In most cases, the characteristics of the seismic motion are known only at the surface, since it is there where most (but not all) of the historical earthquake records have been obtained. While downhole arrays can provide valuable additional information on motion statistics below the surface, it is both possible and desirable to supplement the available database with predictive computational models. With this goal in mind, this paper presents an analytical model to estimate the statistical properties of seismic motions at any point in the ground on the basis of the statistical properties obtained from records on the surface. The emphasis is on the particular cases of stationary SH-waves propagating in a multi-layered soil, and of stationary P-waves propagating in a half-space. The stochastic deconvolution model considered here is based on a formulation with matrices of spectral density functions. Together with the existing formulation based on cross-correlation matrices proposed earlier by Kausel and Pais (J. Engng Mech. Div., ASCE 113 (2) (1998) 266–277), this stochastic deconvolution technique will be referred to as the Complete Stochastic Deamplification Approach (CSDA). The results obtained show that the reduction in the intensity of shaking with embedment is more pronounced when SH-waves propagate in a stratified soil than when they propagate in a homogeneous half-space. Also, it is found that incident P-waves exhibit greater coherency than incident SH-waves, an indication that it is important to distinguish between such wave types when developing coherence models from array data.     

The effect of spatially varying earthquake ground motions on the stochastic response of bridges isolated with friction pendulum systems

In this paper, a comprehensive investigation of the effect of spatially varying earthquake ground motions on the stochastic response of bridges isolated with friction pendulum systems is performed. The spatially varying earthquake ground motions are considered with incoherence, wave-passage and site-response effects. The importance of the site-response effect, which arises from the difference in the local soil conditions at different support points of the isolated bridge, is investigated particularly. Mean of maximum and variance response values obtained from the spatially varying earthquake ground motions are compared with those of the specialised cases of the ground motion model. It is shown that site-response component of the spatially varying earthquake ground motion model has important effects on the stochastic response of the isolated bridges. Therefore, to be more realistic in calculating the isolated bridge responses, the spatially varying earthquake ground motions should be incorporated in the analysis.     

Physical controls on the dynamics of inlet sandbar systems

Knowledge of the physical processes acting at inlet systems and their interaction with sediments and sediment bodies is important to the understanding of such environments. The objectives of this study are to identify and assess the relative importance of the controlling processes across the complex sandbar system at the Teign inlet (Teignmouth, UK) through the combined application of a numerical model, field data and Argus video images. This allows the determination of the regions dominated by wave processes or by tidal processes and definition of the variability of these regions under different wave, tide and river-discharge conditions. Modelling experiments carried out for one stage of the evolution of the system show that the interaction between tidal motion and waves generates complex circulation patterns that drive the local sediment transport and sandbar dynamics, producing a cyclic morphological behaviour of the sandbars that form the ebb-tidal delta. The relative importance of each physical process on the sediment transport and consequent morphodynamics varies across the region. The main inlet channel is dominated by tidal action that directs the sediment transport as a consequence of the varying tidal flow asymmetry, resulting in net offshore transport. Sediment transport over the shoals and secondary channels at both sides of the main channel is dominated by wave-related processes, displacing sediment in the onshore direction. The interaction between waves and tide-generated currents controls the transport over the submerged sandbar that defines the channels seaward extend. High river discharge events are also proven to be important in this region, as they can change sediment-transport patterns across the area.Responsible Editor: Iris Grabemann     

Tidal influence on the hydrodynamics of the French Guiana continental shelf

This study investigates the circulation on the French Guiana continental shelf under tidal influence. Indeed, hydrodynamics are characterised by a weak salinity tongue located in the middle of the shelf and induced by the Amazon River, a coastal current flowing from the southeast, and a tidal standing wave whose co-range lines are parallel to the coast.     

Simulation of tunnel response under spatially varying ground motion

Various components including wave scattering, wave passage, and site amplification effects cause the ground motion to vary spatially. The spatially varying ground motion can significantly influence the dynamic response of longitudinal structures such as bridges and tunnels. While its effect on bridges has been extensively studied, there is a lack of study on its effect on underground tunnels. This paper develops a new procedure for simulating the tunnel response under spatially varying ground motion. The procedure utilizes the longitudinal displacement profile, which is developed from spatially variable ground motion time histories. The longitudinal displacement profile is used to perform a series of pseudo-static three-dimensional finite-element analyses. Results of the analyses show that the spatially variable ground motion causes longitudinal bending of the tunnel and can induce substantial axial stress on the tunnel lining. The effect can be significant at boundaries at which the properties of the ground change in the longitudinal direction.     

Modelling the impact of Black Sea water inflow on the North Aegean Sea hydrodynamics

The impact of the Black Sea Water (BSW) inflow on the circulation and the water mass characteristics of the North Aegean Sea is investigated using a high-resolution 3D numerical model. Four climatological numerical experiments are performed exploring the effects of the exchange amplitude at the Dardanelles Straits in terms of the mean annual volume exchanged and the amplitude of its seasonal cycle. Larger inflow of low salinity BSW influences the water characteristics of the whole basin. The largest salinity reduction is encountered in the upper layers of the water column, and the most affected region is the northeastern part of the basin. The winter insulation character of the BSW layer (low-salinity layer) is reduced by the seasonal cycle of the inflow (minimum during winter). The maximum atmospheric cooling coincides with the minimum BSW inflow rate, weakening the vertical density gradients close to the surface and thus facilitating the vertical mixing. The inflow rate of BSW into the North Aegean Sea constitutes an essential factor for the circulation in the basin. Increased inflow rate results into considerably higher kinetic energy, stronger circulation and reinforcement of the mesoscale circulation features. Although the position of the front between BSW and waters of Levantine origin does not vary significantly with the intensity of the BSW inflow rate, the flow along the front becomes stronger and more unstable as the inflow rate increases, forming meanders and rings. The changes in the intensity of BSW inflow rate overpower the wind and thermohaline forcing and largely determine the general circulation of the North Aegean Sea.     

Sensitivity of tidal characteristics in double inlet systems to momentum dissipation on tidal flats: a perturbation analysis

In a tidal channel with adjacent tidal flats, along–channel momentum is dissipated on the flats during rising tides. This leads to a sink of along–channel momentum. Using a perturbative method, it is shown that the momentum sink slightly reduces the M₂ amplitude of both the sea surface elevation and current velocity and favours flood dominant tides. These changes in tidal characteristics (phase and amplitude of sea surface elevations and currents) are noticeable if widths of tidal flats are at least of the same order as the channel width, and amplitudes and gradients of along–channel velocity are large. The M₂ amplitudes are reduced because stagnant water flows from the flats into the channel, thereby slowing down the current. The M₄ amplitudes and phases change because the momentum sink acts as an advective term during the fall of the tide, such a term generates flood dominant currents. For a prototype embayment that resembles the Marsdiep–Vlie double–inlet system of the Western Wadden Sea, it is found that for both the sea surface elevation and current velocity, including the momentum sink, lead to a decrease of approximately 2% in M₂ amplitudes and an increase of approximately 25% in M₄ amplitudes. As a result, the net import of coarse sediment is increased by approximately 35%, while the transport of fine sediment is hardly influenced by the momentum sink. For the Marsdiep–Vlie system, the M₂ sea surface amplitude obtained from the idealised model is similar to that computed with a realistic three–dimensional numerical model whilst the comparison with regard to M₄ improves if momentum sink is accounted for.     

Experimental investigation of spatially varying effect of ground motions on bridge pounding

Pounding between adjacent bridge structures with insufficient separation distance has been identified as one of the primary causes of damage in many major earthquakes. It takes place because the closing relative movement is larger than the structural gap provided between the structures. This relative structural response is controlled not only by the dynamic properties of the participating structures but also by the characteristics of the ground excitations. The consequence of the spatial variation of ground motions has been studied by researchers; however, most of these studies were performed numerically. The objective of the present research is to experimentally evaluate the influence of spatial variation of ground motions on the pounding behaviour of three adjacent bridge segments. The investigation is performed using three shake tables. The input spatially varying ground excitations are simulated based on the New Zealand design spectra for soft soil, shallow soil and strong rock using an empirical coherency loss function. Results confirm that the spatially nonniform ground motions increase the relative displacement of adjacent bridge girders and pounding forces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of river channel patterns to the spatially varying suspended sediment concentrations

River channel pattern transformation is dealt with in a broad background of suspended sediment concentration, varying from low, medium, high to hyperconcentration. Based on data from about 100 alluvial rivers in China, suspended sediment transport rate has been plotted against mean annual water discharge, showing that all points can be divided into four belts by three straight lines, as stable braided pattern, meandering pattern with ordinary sediment concentrations, wandering braided pattern, and meandering pattern with hyperconcentration of sediment. This picture of channel pattern transformation can be well explained by the law of the water flow's energy expenditure varying with its sediment concentration. The energy expenditure increases with sediment concentration, reaching a maximum, then declines. Rivers falling in different ranges of sediment concentrations adjust their own energy expenditure in different manners, leading to occurrence of different channel patterns. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49671011).     

复杂场地条件下地震动空间效应研究

产生地震动空间效应的主要原因是地质构造的变化会极大地改变复杂场地条件下到达不同观测点的地震波,因此地震波振幅和相位发生明显变化。本文利用有限元和边界元耦合的方法,通过建立雷克子波入射时的非线性响应模型求解复杂场地条件下的波动积分方程,进行复杂近地表构造中地震波场数值模拟,旨在分析复杂场地条件下入射方向不同的地震波的动力响应规律。研究结果显示近地表会极大地改变地震波传播特征,导致地震波传播趋向不一致性的因素是由于复杂场地条件重建了地震波的传播路径,尤其须指出的是非一致性地表位移响应源于软土层中低频子波的传播。在地震响应分析中导致系统不同动力响应的其他原因是主频和地震波速度结构的改变,同时地震波入射角度的改变会引起到达观测点的时间滞后,地表位移响应随着入射角度的增大而增加,地震动的空间效应随着入射角度的减小而愈趋明显。     

Response spectrum analysis of structures subjected to spatially varying motions

An important aspect of earthquake loads exerted on extended structures, or structures founded on several foundations, is the spatial variability of the seismic motion. Hence, a rigorous earthquake resistant design of lifeline structures should account for the spatial character of the seismic input, at least in an approximate way. A procedure is proposed which enables addressing the problem of multiply supported structures, subjected to imperfectly correlated seismic excitations, by means of an extension to the response spectrum method. A modified response spectrum model is developed for the design of extended facilities subjected to single and multicomponent ground motion. The modification procedure is based on adjusting each spectral value of the given design response spectrum by means of a correction factor, which depends on the structural properties and on the characteristics of the wave propagation phenomenon. Finally, the theoretical model is validated through digital simulation of seismic ground motion, whereby model predictions are found to be in good agreement with exact results.     

Response of indeterminate two-span beam to spatially varying seismic excitation

In order to examine the effect of the spatial variation of ground motion on the response of an indeterminate structure, the stochastic responses of a two-span beam to spatially varying support excitations are analysed. A space-time earthquake ground motion model that accounts for both coherency decay and seismic wave propagation is used to specify the support motions, and the results are compared with those for various simplified excitations that are commonly used in practice. The response is computed through a linear random vibration approach with the structure being modelled by finite elements. The results of the study indicate that, even for moderate lengths, the effect of the spatial variation of ground motion can be significant. The assumption of fully coherent support motions (same excitations at all supports or delayed excitations allowing only for wave propagation) may be overconservative for some beams and unconservative for others.     

Long-term evolution of sand waves in the Marsdiep inlet. II: Relation to hydrodynamics

A discussion is presented about the mechanisms that govern the spatial and seasonal variability in sand-wave height and migration speed in the 4 km wide Marsdiep tidal inlet, the Netherlands. Since 1998, current velocities and water depths have been recorded with an ADCP that is mounted under the ferry ‘Schulpengat’. In this paper, the current measurements were used to explain the sand-wave observations presented in Buijsman and Ridderinkhof [this issue. Long-term evolution of sand waves in the Marsdiep inlet. I: high-resolution observations. Continental Shelf Research, doi:10.1016/j.csr.2007.10.011]. Across nearly the entire inlet, the sand waves migrate in the flood direction. In the flood-dominated southern part of the inlet, the ‘measured’ (i.e. based on sand-wave shape and migration speed) and predicted bedload transport agree in direction, magnitude, and trends, whereas in the ebb-dominated northern part the predicted bedload and suspended load transport is opposite to the sand-wave migration. In the southern part, 55% of the bedload transport is due to tidal asymmetries and 45% due to residual currents. In addition to the well-known tidal asymmetries, asymmetries that arise from the interaction of _M2${\mathrm{M}}_2$ and its overtides with _S2${\mathrm{S}}_2$ and its compound tides are also important. It is hypothesised that in the northern part of the inlet the advection of suspended sand and lag effects govern the sand-wave migration. The relative importance of suspended load transport also explains why the sand waves have smaller lee-slope angles, are smaller, more rounded, and more three-dimensional in the northern half of the inlet. The sand waves in this part of the inlet feature the largest seasonal variability in height and migration speed. This seasonal variability may be attributed to the tides or a seasonal fluctuation in fall velocity. In both cases sediment transport is enhanced in winter, increasing sand-wave migration and decreasing sand-wave height. The influence of storms and estuarine circulation on the sand-wave variability is negligible.     

Earthquake response of arch dams to spatially varying ground motion

The response of two arch dams to spatially varying ground motions recorded during earthquakes is computed by a recently developed linear analysis procedure, which includes dam–water–foundation rock interaction effects and recognizes the semi‐unbounded extent of the rock and impounded water domains. By comparing the computed and recorded responses, several issues that arise in analysis of arch dams are investigated. It is also demonstrated that spatial variations in ground motion, typically ignored in engineering practice, can have profound influence on the earthquake‐induced stresses in the dam. This influence obviously depends on the degree to which ground motion varies spatially along the dam–rock interface. Thus, for the same dam, this influence could differ from one earthquake to the next, depending on the epicenter location and the focal depth of the earthquake relative to the dam site. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

定常风对鄱阳湖水动力的影响

鄱阳湖属大风区,风场作为仅次于流域"五河"倾泻和长江顶托作用的另一重要驱动力,或在某些时刻影响局部区域的水流结构,进而影响局部水体中泥沙、污染物、营养盐等物质的输移和扩散.基于鄱阳湖二维水动力数学模型,模拟定常风场条件下的鄱阳湖流场分布及环流形式,并与无风条件下的水流时空结构进行对比.结果表明:3.03 m/s的NE向和SSW向定常风对湖泊水位影响微弱;对流速的影响主要集中在7月中旬至9月底的"湖相"期;其影响区域主要分布在湖区中部大湖面偏西岸及东部湖湾,约占湖泊最大水面积的16%;上述区域出现明显环流,环流结构具有时空异质性特点,环流区流速普遍增至无风时的两倍以上;NE向和SSW向风场产生的环流位置相近,方向相反.相比于以往鄱阳湖水动力研究中对风场的忽略,本次研究揭示了定常风场对鄱阳湖的重点影响区域、影响程度及影响形式,可为泥沙及污染物输移模拟中对风场条件的处理及可能带来的误差与误差的空间分布提供重要依据.     

Establishing the wave climate influence on the morphodynamics of a coastal lagoon inlet

The morphologic changes in estuaries and coastal lagoons are very complex and constitute a challenging task in coastal research. The bathymetric changes result from the combined action of tides, waves, rivers discharge and wind stress in the area of interest. Additionally, an accurate knowledge of the sediment transport is essential to achieve a good morphological characterization. This work establishes the influence of the wave climate on the morphodynamics of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon inlet by analysing the numerical results of the morphodynamic modelling system MORSYS2D. The numerical simulations considered a realistic coupled forcing of tidal currents and waves. The computed sediment fluxes and bathymetric changes are analysed and compared with the erosion and accretion trends obtained from the numerical simulations forced only by tidal currents, in order to establish the wave climate influence. The final bathymetry and the corresponding changes are compared with bathymetric data collected through surveys. It is concluded that: (a) the morphodynamics of the study area is dominated by the wave regime in the lagoon inlet and nearshore areas, while in the inner areas is tidally dominated; and (b) the inclusion of the wave regime forcing constitutes an improvement in order to accurately reproduce the local morphodynamics.