Laboratory effects in beach studies, vol.8 : Analysis of results from 10 movable-bed experiments

Abstract : Variation in wave reflection from a movable bed as it adjusted to the impinging waves was the primary source of wave height variability in 10 experiments in 6- and 10-foot-wide wave tanks. Re-reflection of waves from the wave generator, secondary waves, transverse waves, and cross waves also contributed to the wave height variability. Laboratory effects, caused by differences in initial profile slope, initial test length (distance between the wave generator and the initial shoreline), tank width, and water temperature, affected the profile development and the wave height variability. Initial profile slope and initial test length should be kept constant to assure test repeatability in movable-bed experiments. The wavelength-to-tank width ratio should be greater than or equal to 3 to assure two dimensionality of profile development, but two-dimensional profiles may not be realistic replications of three-dimensional profiles.