Experimental Study of the Changes of Morphodynamic Process Caused by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

Abstract

In order to predict the effects on the hydrodynamic environment caused by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the physical model is built to analyze the changes of morphodynamic process. The experimental results show that the drag force on flow is increased and the flow section area is decreased by the two large artificial islands built in the sea. The opposite side of the artificial islands, there is the recirculation zone with many vortexes in different scales, which have the periodic change from formation to disappearance. Near both ends of the artificial islands, the velocities of tidal currents increase, then the seabed has obvious erosion trend. Affected by the topography, hydrodynamic conditions, as well as by the position, shape and scale of the artificial islands, the changes of morphodynamic process caused by both the west artificial island and the east one is similar in the change rules and different in the forms.