Integral flow properties of the swash zone and averaging. Part 2. Shoreline boundary conditions for wave-averaged models

Abstract

Shoreline boundary conditions for nearshore hydrodynamic models are discussed on the basis of the swash zone equations of Brocchini & Peregrine (1996). Swash zone flows are investigated further using the shallow water equations. Results from numerical computations are used to guide approximation to provide more practical boundary conditions for wave-averaged flows. Approximate boundary conditions, valid for small values of the rate of change of the mean water volume in the swash zone, are found which allow explicit computation of a non-zero mean water depth at the mean shoreline. This is computed in terms of the local height of the short waves. Implementation issues are also discussed.