ABSTRACT
Experiments and field observations have revealed that when silt and very fine sand are subject to oscillatory wave motion, a high shear flow layer and a high concentration layer (HCL) exist near the bottom. A number of numerical models for sediment transport have been developed over the years. An intra-wave process based 1DV model was developed for fine sediment transport under the combined action of waves and currents. A number of experimental datasets were collected to verify the model, which shows that the model is able to properly simulate the flow and sediment dynamics. Sensitivity analyses were carried out on some factors which would impact the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) profile of the HCL by the 1DV model. Results show that bed forms play a significant role in the HCL and determination of the shape of the concentration profile. The chapter provides a tool for the study of the HCL and an evaluation of several impact factors on the HCL.
