Abstract
Numerical simulations are performed to evaluate sediment transport affected by saturation of a beach slope in the swash zone. The wave transformation and groundwater flow are estimated using the Reynolds model describing the average motion of turbulent flow coupled with the saturated-unsaturated seepage flow model. The advection diffusion model is used to compute the transport of suspended sediment in the swash zone. Nielsen formula, which estimates the pickup rate of sediment, is applied as the bottom boundary condition. The infiltration-exfiltration effects are quantified through a permeable Shields parameter. The comparison between present model results and previous experimental data show that, in the case of fine sand, the characteristics of sediment transport due to saturation of a beach slope can be evaluated by changes in the effective weight of sediment due to infiltration-exfiltration flow.
