This project aims at making improvements in model codes to enhance the use of morphodynamic simulations in coastal problems. The following activities have been carried out:
- Improvement of Delft3D behaviour as a small coastal model or profile model, prior to inclusion in the standard code. In particular, the boundary conditions in Delft3D were improved so that Delft3D may be easily applied to a small coastal area (order 2 km longshore by 1 km cross-shore), or as a full-fledged replacement of Unibest-TC. The method was published in Roelvink and Walstra (2004)
- Building in a simplified wave refraction algorithm based on Snel's Law, which eliminates the need for a separate wave model for profile model applications.
- Redesign of the WAVE module, in support of R&D Delft3D-WAVE, to allow coupling of Delft3DWAVE and FLOW in domain decomposition mode. The model now allows multiple nested SWAN runs to interact with multiple FLOW domains.
All of these developments are included in the standard release of Delft3D or will be included in 2005, thereby making them available to a wide range of users and researchers. The ability to run Delft3D in profile mode is very valuable in calibrating models, since the cross-shore profile behaviour may be calibrated efficiently before the overall calibration of large 3D models takes place. The combination of domain decomposition, online morphology and waves adds much flexibility to coastal morphodynamic models, since it becomes straightforward to apply local refinements, i.e. near structures under investigation. |
