ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses physical modelling of nearshore sedimentary response for the case of a non-cohesive material. The complexities of some project geometries and the advantages of visualization and actually dealing with a scaled version of the system of concern are such that physical modelling is probably the more appropriate choice. A substantial number of investigations have been carried out to define the requirements for physical modelling of nearshore systems. In attempting to utilize model results to evaluate the approach, it is worthwhile to first assess the level of expected agreement, as it is well-known that there is a considerable amount of variability, both within a particular test program and also from one test facility to another. A possibly useful scenario of bar formation may be obtained by considering the response of a beach profile to waves of increasing heights, with the wave period held constant.
