Title of the project
SOURCE: Practical Modeling of Shoreface Nourishments along the Dutch Coast
Type
PhD research
Duration
2025 – 2029
Persons involved
S.A. Shah (PhD Candidate)
prof.dr. S.J.M.H. Hulscher (Promotor)
dr. Ir. T.M. Duong (Daily supervisor)
dr.ir. J.J. van der Werf (Co-Supervisor)
Funding of the project
NWO
Summary of the research
Shoreface nourishments are widely applied to counteract erosion and maintain flood safety worldwide, but predicting their long-term morphodynamic response remains uncertain. Earlier studies often relied profile and area models, which overlook 3D morphodynamics, bar dynamics, and the influence of nourishment design parameters such as placement depth, berm height, and sediment grain size. Moreover, the effects of environmental variability, storms, interannual changes, and sea-level rise on nourishment behavior are still poorly understood, leaving major gaps in guidance for adaptive coastal management.
This research, conducted within the SOURCE program, addresses these gaps through a numerical modeling for different design parameters and environmental conditions. First, a Delft3D-3D model will be applied to investigate the morphodynamic evolution of individual nourishments over a 5-year timescale, focusing on sediment spreading, nearshore bar development, and shoreline response. Secondly, a variance-based sensitivity analysis will then quantify the influence of nourishment design parameters on sediment retention and volumetric change. Finally, a one-line coastline model (ShorelineS) will be used to upscale results and assess long-term impacts (up to 50 years) of sea-level rise and varying wave climates.
By integrating detailed process-based simulations with efficient, large-scale modeling, this research aims to deliver practical and probabilistic tools for evaluating nourishment strategies and supporting climate-resilient coastal management.
Keywords
Shoreface nourishment, coastal morphodynamics, Nourishment modeling, sediment transport, nearshore bar dynamics, ShorelineS, Delft3D
More information
Arooba Shah
Room Horst W211
syeda.shah@utwente.nl