Thomas E. White
US Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal Research and Development Program
To develop and test theories (analytical models) relating currents to sediment-transport rates:
a. Compute comparative performance levels of numerous velocity-based point sediment-transport theories, in order to determine which theories are most appropriate for which coastal sediment problems.
b. Test numerous variations suggested for changes in the Corps of Engineers' Shore Protection Manual's longshore sediment-transport equation. Use data from offshore directional wave gages as input into equations. Compare equations' outputs to measured longshore transport rate, in order to determine the best methods for predicting sand motion along coastlines.
c. Field experiments demonstrating higher correlation between fluid acceleration and sediment transport, than between fluid velocity and sediment transport (White, 1987), motivated development of an acceleration-based transport theory, to be further tested with DUCK94 data. Engineering predictions of sand motion may be improved by relying on sea-water accelerations to determine sand motion.
Deployment of three platforms of vertical arrays of Optical Backscatter Sensors (OBS) and Electromagnetic Current Meters, sonars, and a new Optical Backscatter Flux Sensor, will provide data to test theoretical models of sand motion on beaches. Improved theories of sand motion will result in improved predictions of coastal erosion and shoreline movement.