Author(s): H. F. P. Van Den Boogaard; H. Gerritsen; S. Caires; M. R. A. Van Gent
Linked Author(s): Herman Gerritsen
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Design wave loads on a sea defence with a typical sand foreshore are generally determined by means of physical modelling using a fixed bottom and paying no attention to bottom profile uncertainty. The composite modelling approach described here offers a cost-effective and accurate way to account for bottom uncertainty when determining design wave loads. The approach consists in the combination of limited physical model experiments, extensive numerical experiments together with a dedicated error correction facility, and an optimisation procedure. The physical experiments were carried out in the Deltares Scheldt flume and the numerical experiments were made with the Boussinesq-type wave model TRITON. The error correction is based on neural networks, and the optimisation involves the minimisation of a wave load expression. The key to the success of the present composite modelling approach is prior analysis of the model deficiencies and conceptual physical/mathematical characteristics, allowing the determination of a rather accurate and practically efficient error correction model.
Year: 2009