Experimental Study on Changes of Sloping Sandy Bed Profile under Breaking Waves

The wave breaking forces can exacerbate sediment transport, and lead to erosion of the seabed, coastal deformation and destruction of coastal structures. The experiment is carried out in a wave flume with a 1:30 sloping sandy seabed. A wide range of measurements from the regular wave runs are reported, including time series of wave heights, changes of bed profile. The video records are analysed to measure the time development of the seabed form and the characteristics of the orbital motion of the sand in the wave breaking region. The location and wave height at wave breaking point is measured by experiment. Formation and evolution of sand ripple and sand bar are studied under the breaking waves. It is found that effect of bed surface on wave breaking zone is more significant than wave non-breaking.