Longshore Sand Transport Rate Measurements Using Small-Scale Physical Models

Small-scale laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the total and the cross-shore distribution of longshore sand transport rate on long straight beaches of uniform grain size under monochromatic waves. An efficient trap system was introduced to collect the sediments transported alongshore. Substantial peak in the distribution of longshore sand transport rate was observed in the swash zone, in addition to the peak at the breaker zone under, relatively strong plunging breakers. The cross-shore distribution of longshore sand transport rate was found to be dependent on the profile of the beach and the period of the waves, which controlled the breaker type.