Total Littoral Transport in Entire Breaker Zone in CERC Formula Calculator

CERC Formula:

\[ S = 0.014 \times H_d^2 \times C_o \times K_r^2 \times \sin(\phi_{br}) \times \cos(\phi_{br}) \]

Deepwater Wave Height (Hd):

Deepwater Wave Celerity (Co):

m/s

Refraction Coefficient (Kr):

Angle of Wave Incidence (φbr):

rad

Total Littoral Transport (S):

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1. What is the CERC Formula?

The CERC (Coastal Engineering Research Center) formula estimates total littoral transport in the entire breaker zone, representing the transport of non-cohesive sediments along the shoreline primarily due to breaking waves.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the CERC formula:

\[ S = 0.014 \times H_d^2 \times C_o \times K_r^2 \times \sin(\phi_{br}) \times \cos(\phi_{br}) \]

Where:

\( S \) — Total Littoral Transport (m³/s)
\( H_d \) — Deepwater Wave Height (m)
\( C_o \) — Deepwater Wave Celerity (m/s)
\( K_r \) — Refraction Coefficient (-)
\( \phi_{br} \) — Angle of Wave Incidence (rad)

Explanation: The formula accounts for wave energy and direction to estimate sediment transport along the coastline.

3. Importance of Littoral Transport Calculation

Details: Accurate littoral transport estimation is crucial for coastal engineering, beach nourishment projects, shoreline management, and understanding coastal erosion processes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter deepwater wave height in meters, deepwater wave celerity in m/s, refraction coefficient (dimensionless), and angle of wave incidence in radians. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is littoral transport?
A: Littoral transport refers to the movement of sediments along the shoreline caused by wave action and currents in the nearshore zone.

Q2: Why is the refraction coefficient important?
A: The refraction coefficient accounts for how waves change direction and speed as they move from deep to shallow water, affecting their energy and transport capacity.

Q3: What are typical values for littoral transport?
A: Littoral transport rates vary significantly depending on wave climate, ranging from thousands to millions of cubic meters per year along different coastlines.

Q4: What are the limitations of the CERC formula?
A: The formula provides an empirical estimate and may not account for all local factors such as sediment characteristics, tidal influences, or complex bathymetry.

Q5: How accurate is this formula?
A: The CERC formula provides reasonable estimates for preliminary coastal studies but should be validated with field measurements for specific projects.