THREE-DIMENSIONAL NUMERICAL MODELING OF SEDIMENT TRANSPORT NEAR COASTAL INLETS

Simulation of the hydro- and morphodynamic processes near coastal inlets is important but challenging, due to multiple interacting forces (waves, wind, tides, river flows, density currents, etc.) on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. A number of 2-D models have been used in the past, but recently 3-D models have gained more and more attentions because better accuracy and reliability are desired. A 3-D model has been developed in this study to simulate the complex flow, sediment transport and bed change near coastal inlets.