NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF TIDAL CIRCULATION FOR LONG BEACH HARBOR. REPORT 1. EXISTING CONDITIONS AND ALTERNATE PLANS FOR PIER J COMPLETION AND TANKER TERMINAL STUDY

A study was conducted for Long Beach Harbor to numerically investigate tidal circulation in existing basins and to define and evaluate the impact of possible modification of Pier J on existing harbor circulation. A two-dimensional depth-averaged formulation of the hydrodynamic equations was used in the model and an implicit-explicit finite difference scheme was used to numerically solve the equations. The numerical model was verified using tide and velocity data from the prototype and from physical model tests conducted at WES. For each Pier J modification considered, overall tidal circulation patterns were obtained hourly by vector plots of the tidal velocity at each finite difference cell. The change in overall tidal circulation patterns from those presently existing were also determined. The mass flow rates through the breakwater openings and channels were calculated and compared with those flows currently existing in the harbor. Changes in flow rates as a result of the Pier J modification were identified. (Author)