Impacts of permeability on beach performance
A review of the current understanding of mixed beach processes, the method of predicting cliffing problems, and advice on best practice for beach recharge programmes.
Documents
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Details
Background
Beach recharge using mixed sand-gravel sediment is a common practice in the UK and is used as a means of coastal defence and protection against storm wave attack. Good design for schemes involving such sediment depends on effectively predicting the behaviour of the beach in response to different wave conditions. This in turn depends on our understanding of sediment processes on mixed sand-gravel beaches.
Approach
This scoping study reviews existing knowledge and current practice relating to beach recharge. It develops a costed framework of field and / or laboratory investigations to increase knowledge of the processes involved. This provides guidance for the design and management of recharged beaches. It also improves the design methodology for shingle and mixed beach recharge with respect to material mixing, grading specification and construction method.
This study is based on:
- an extensive literature review
- theoretical analysis and special purpose laboratory experiments
- re-analysis of existing experimental data
- numerical modelling with the support of laboratory and field data
- case studies of three current / recent beach recharge programmes
The report includes:
- an extensive review of the current state of understanding of mixed beach processes
- the method of prediction of the cliffing problem
- preliminary advice on good practices in relation to beach recharge programmes
This project ran from 2005 to 2006 at a cost of £48,374.