Application of analytical model for tidal residual sediment transport in estuaries

Abstract

In coastal seas and estuaries, the presence of periodic forces, e.g. tides, results in the fluctuation of sediment transports. Therefore, the study of residual sediment transport in a tidal environment is more practical rather than sediment transport itself. Based on the assumption that sediment transport is proportional to an exponential power of current velocity (u⁵), a simplified analytical expression is derived for residual total load sediment transport in a tidal environment. The tidal current is represented by tidal current constituent series of M₀, M₂, S₂, N₂, M₄, MS₄, MN₄, M₆, K₁ and O₁. The expression can be adapted to quantify the sediment transport in areas with significant residual current and diurnal tidal regimes.