Morphological and Navigational Aspects of Tidal Inlets on Littoral Drift Shores

Abstract

Tidal inlets and fjords have always been important navigational arteries because they provide natural harbors. As vessel sizes increased, depth requirements also grew and on littoral drift shores shallow bars in front of inlets became obstacles to navigation. Even if in some cases the gorge channel, the smallest section of the channel, had sufficient depth, the bar section was invariably shallower and wave action over the bar increased navigation problems. Research has long concentrated mainly on the gorge section with its simplified hydraulic conditions adaptable to the hydraulic engineers' way of thinking. This article pays attention to the overall stability with particular reference to the bar section and its combined flow and sediment conditions. Certain practical conclusions on improvements for navigation are drawn. This article also summarizes and updates the book Stability of Tidal Inlets (BRUUN, MEHTA, and JONSSON, 1978).