Hydrodynamics induced by low-crested rubble-mound structures: wave basin experimental analysis and 2DH numerical simulations

This paper analyses waves and current flows around low-crested structures through wave basin tests and numerical simulations. The experimental data set is composed of the 3D tests performed in the wave basins at Aalborg University on a fixed bed (Lamberti & al., 2003) and at Bari University on a mobile bed (Martinelli & al., 2004). Experimental results, focusing on rip current intensities, are presented and dis-cussed in relation to the most significant parameters as freeboard, wave intensity, gap over structure length. Experimental results for submerged structures are compared to simulations carried out with the 2DH nu-merical tool MIKE 21, showing that flow patterns are qualitatively reproduced and rip current intensities can be predicted, whereas set-up intensity is generally overestimated due to some limitations in the numerical model.