GenCade Val:Benchmark Cases
A series of standardized test cases was developed to demonstrate isolated GenCade model capabilities and verify results against established legacy models (e.g., GENESIS). Simple idealized cases focusing on each of the primary model processes and coastal structures were evaluated separately.Isolation of individual modeled components is an effective means of examining the fundamental skill of a model and can be a practical tool for identifying potential errors, oversights, or omissions when investigating individual components of the model under simple idealized cases.A series of standardized test cases was developed to demonstrate isolated GenCade model capabilities and verify results against established legacy models (e.g., GENESIS). Simple idealized cases focusing on each of the primary model processes and coastal structures were evaluated separately. Isolation of individual modeled components is an effective means of examining the fundamental skill of a model and can be a practical tool for identifying potential errors, oversights, or omissions when investigating individual components of the model under simple idealized cases.
The standardized benchmark cases developed here are separated into the primary coastal structures and project components that are frequently applied in GenCade. Each of the cases is presented with a range in wave forcing to test symmetry of process calculation. GENESIS simulations were also developed following corresponding test cases to evaluate how GenCade results agree with the well-validated legacy model and to support user-confidence for the transfer and migration from GENESIS.
GenCade model setup
Model domain
Two categories of idealized model domains were developed for the standardized benchmark cases: straight shoreline domains and concave embayment domains. The purpose of the straight shoreline domains is to provide an uncomplicated foundation to test the most fundamental processes and the impact of coastal structures within the GenCade model. The purpose of the concave embayment domains is to examine the effects wave forcing and structures have on a continuous and uniform alongshore shoreline angle gradient and examine regional contour capabilities. Figures 29 through 35 show each of the seven domains in the straight shoreline category. Figure 29 represents the simplest case with a straight shoreline and no structures or project features within the domain. Figures 30 through 35 build upon this domain with the addition of individual coastal structures or project components. These structures or components include: a single groin (Figure 30), a detached breakwater (Figure 31), a T-head groin (Figure 32), a seawall with a groin to force shoreline erosion to the seawall (Figure 33), a beach fill project (Figure 34), and an inlet with jetties (Figure 35).
Figures 36 and 37 show the two domains in the concave shoreline category. The concave shorelines were developed using a simple quadratic formula to maintain symmetry. The quadratic function employed for these concave shorelines was:
y = ax2
where a = 10-4. Figure 36 represents a simple case with a concave shoreline and no structures or project features within the domain. Figure 37 builds upon this domain with the addition of two groins.
Model forcing: waves
Simulations of the standardized benchmark cases were conducted under various wave forcing. Constant wave forcing over the entire length of the simulation was initially examined for general investigation purposes. First constant waves with 0.75 m offshore wave height and 8 sec period were applied as forcing for both positive wave angles at +15-deg and negative wave angles at -15-deg. Wave forcing simulations were also conducted for constant zero-deg (i.e., shore normal) angles and simulations for all angles between +85-deg and -85-deg in 5-deg increments, but since the net shoreline change for these simulations results in zero change, they are not presented here. For all cases, wave inputs were supplied at the 50 m depth contour.
Model parameters
Wherever possible, the model parameters were held constant between each of the simulations in each domain category for purposes of consistency of comparison between simulations. Table 1 presents the model parameters common to all the standardized benchmark cases in the straight shoreline domains.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| DX, m | 10 |
| NX | 300 (Straight Domain); 360 (concave Domain) |
| DT, hr | 0.5 |
| K1 | 0.5 |
| K2 | 0.25 |
| ISMOOTH, # Cells in Smoothing Window | 3 |
| Non-Jetty boundary condition | Pinned |
GenCade model results and discussion
No structures
The simplest case of a straight shoreline without any coastal structures or coastal project components is presented first. Figure 38 shows the results after a 2-year simulation with constant +15-deg wave angle forcing. As one would expect, there is zero shoreline change since the alongshore gradients in transport are zero and transport is constant at approximately 200,000 m3/yr. Figure 39 shows the results after a 2-year simulation with constant -15-deg wave angle forcing. Similar to the positive wave angle forcing case, there is zero shoreline change since the alongshore gradients in transport are zero. Figure 39(c) indicates that transport is constant at approximately -200,000 m3/yr. Results for all simulations with no structures result in good agreement between GenCade results and GENESIS results.
Single groin
A case having a straight shoreline with a single groin 75 m long (175 m from the grid origin) at the center of the domain is presented next to examine shoreline response to the presence of a groin. Figure 40 shows the results after a 2-year simulation with constant +15-deg wave angle forcing. The groin presents an obstruction to longshore transport, which results in a reduction of transport rates as sediment is bypassed around the groin. This local transport reduction in the vicinity of the groin translates to a gradient in transport rates as transport transitions to and from background rates. This difference in sediment transport potential accounts for the accretion of sediment and resulting shoreline progradation seaward on the left (updrift) side of the groin as the transport rates decrease from 200,000 m3/yr to approximately 50,000 m3/yr at the groin. Conversely, as transport rates increase from 50,000 m3/yr in the vicinity of the groin back to 200,000 m3/yr outside of the region of groin influence, the expected downdrift shoreline erosion is observed. Figure 41 presents the results after a 2-year simulation with constant -15- deg wave angle forcing. The opposite pattern is observed in this example because transport is forced by negative wave angles relative to shore normal. Figure 41(c) shows that an increase in transport occurs on the left(downdrift) side of the groin from -200,000 m3/yr background transport rate to -50,000 m3/yr in the vicinity of the groin. This positive gradient results in erosion while the negative gradient on the right (updrift) side of the groin results in accretion. Figures 40 and 41 clearly depict excellent agreement between GenCade results and GENESIS results for all simulations with a single groin as well as perfect symmetry between the positive and negative wave angle forcing.
Detached breakwater
A detached breakwater case is evaluated in this section with a 90 m long emergent breakwater at the center of the domain located 100 m offshore of the shoreline at a depth of 6 m. Although this case is similar in configuration to the LSTF experiment detailed in section 3.1, this case is simulated at full prototype (i.e., larger) scale and over a much longer time frame. Figure 42 shows the results after a 2-year simulation with constant +15-deg wave angle forcing. These simulations result in a nearly symmetric shoreline change response in the lee of the breakwater and the development of a large salient approximately 75 m at the apex. The transport rates decrease from a background rate of 200,000 m3/yr to approximately 25,000 m3/yr directly behind the breakwater structure. Figure 43 presents the results after a 2-year simulation with constant -15-deg wave angle forcing. The opposite pattern is observed in this example because transport is forced by negative wave angles relative to shore normal. Figure 43(c) shows that an increase in transport occurs on the left(downdrift) side of the breakwater from -200,000 m3/yr background transport rate to -25,000 m3/yr in the lee of the breakwater. Again, the expected opposite shoreline response is observed here. Figures 42 and 43 show good overall agreement between GenCade results and GENESIS results. There is some difference observed at the peaks of the salient and the downdrift erosional zones; however, this difference is small and accounts for only about two percent error (1.7 percent normalized mean absolute error and 2.3 percent normalized root-mean-square error). Differences in results could be because of differences in the wave transformation model.
T-groin
A T-groin case is demonstrated in this section with a 90 m long T-head groin at the center of the domain located 100 m offshore of the shoreline with all diffracting tips set to a depth of 6 m. Figure 44 shows the results after a 2-year simulation with constant +15-deg wave angle forcing. These simulations result in a nearly symmetric shoreline change response in the lee of the T-head and on either side of the groin and the accretion of shoreline out to the structure tip. The transport rates decrease from a background rate of 200,000 m3/yr to zero directly adjacent to the groin structure.Figure 45 presents the results after a 2-year simulation with constant -15-deg wave angle forcing. The opposite pattern is again observed in this example because transport is forced by negative wave angles relative to shore normal. Figure 45(c) shows that an increase in transport occurs on the left (downdrift) side of the groin from -200,000 m3/yr background transport rate to zero directly adjacent to the groin structure. Figures 44 and 45 show good agreement between GenCade results and GENESIS results over the entire length of the domain.
Seawall
A seawall case is demonstrated next with a simple 100 m long seawall at the center of the domain located 10 m shoreward of (i.e., behind) the
shoreline. Since a seawall that lies behind a straight shoreline with no other structures will never become exposed, a groin was added 100 m updrift of the seawall to force shoreline erosion in the vicinity of the seawall and expose the seawall to influence downdrift shoreline evolution. The groin follows the same dimensions of the single groin case. Figure 46 shows the results after a 2-year simulation with constant +15-deg wave angle forcing. The shoreline erodes to the right of the groin exposing the seawall. This halts erosion at the seawall, but accelerates erosion to the right (downdrift) of the seawall. Prior to the end of the simulation sediment accretes in front of the seawall resulting in the shoreline position observed in Figure 46(a).