Parametric Analyses of Wave-Induced Nearshore Current System

To date, a few investigations have focused on the interaction and sensitivity analysis of different factors affecting the nearshore current system. This paper attempts to present detailed parametric analyses by analyzing a widely adopted experiment using a model based on shallow-water and mild-slope equations. Discussions and conclusions are then made by the numerical experiments in this paper. Various factors, including bed roughness and bed slope, are taken into account to figure out their impact on the velocity field. Moreover, estimation of effective bed roughness, turbulent diffusion effects, and surface roller are considered and discussed in this study. After a series of analyses, bottom roughness is found to be the most significant variable in the system, whereas surface roller is proved to be indispensable in such two-dimensional nearshore current models. When the bed slope is too large, the present model gives poor computed results. Finally, suggested choices of formula and determination of important coefficients (e.g., the energy dissipation coefficient in the surface-roller model) are provided.