A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992

In order to quantify the coastal morphology in the vicinity of Map Ta Phut port numerical simulations are conducted for various incident wave conditions. The simulations of wave breakerline, shoreline change morphology, nearshore wave and current fields are carried out by four mathematical models. The mathematical models for simulating breakerline, wave and current fields are based on recently developed time dependent mild slope equation. In the simulation of wave field, the combined effects of wave reflection, refraction, diffraction and wave breaking in the presence of coastal structure and complicated bottom topography are taken into consideration. The numerical model (1-line) for predicting shoreline change morphology is based on sediment mass conservation equation where cross-shore directed sediment transport rate is neglected. The alongshore transport rates, the principal parameter of 1-line model, are estimated from the breaking wave characteristics of breakerline model. The computer programs written by Numano (1988) for the simulations of breakerline, wave and current fields, are used as the basis of development. Numano's models are further extended to handle both normal and obliquely progressing waves. A computer program (1-line model) for predicting shoreline change is proposed. The applicability of the models is first judged through simulations on hypothetical beach with constant slope. The scaling effect on the models is then investigated by conducting simulations on a beach schematized and scaled from the Map Ta Phut beach. Finally, the models are applied to the Map Ta Phut beach with field wave conditions. The obtained results draw the conclusion that a significant change in the coastal morphology around the port is apprehended with gradual accretion of shoreline in the updrift side of the western breakwater.