Coastal engineering investigation at Jupiter Inlet, Florida

Abstract

A fixed-bed hydraulic model of Jupiter Inlet, Florida, wasconstructed for the purpose of testing measures designed to remedyproblems of sediment erosion and deposition in the inlet area. Bothtide-induced flows as well as waves were simulated in the model whichwas built on an undistorted scale of 1:49. Model verification was basedon prototype measurements of waves, tides and currents. Results havebeen interpreted in terms of the influence of various proposed remedialschemes on flow velocity magnitude, distribution and wave height atvarious locations within the study area. A stability parameter has beenutilized for evaluating the degree of sediment erosion or deposition ata given location.Various structural solutions were examined in the model. It isproposed that, in the initial phase of solution implementation, sedimentremoval/nourishment methods be used primarily to mitigate the existingproblems. New structures, as per model test results, should beinstalled under subsequent phases, only if sediment managementprocedures do not prove to be adequate. The currently followedprocedure of periodic sand trap dredging may be extended to include thenew dredging/nourishment requirements. (PDF contains 245 pages.)