Numerical study on the three-dimensional characteristics of the tidal current around harbor entrance

A three-dimensional (3-D) numerical model is established to investigate the tidal current motion characteristics around the harbor entrance. Computational approaches consist of the finite difference method, time-splitting technique, C-grid, and a high-order turbulence closure model. The Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) inundation scheme is incorporated in the model. An engineering application, Lianyungang Harbor, China, is used as a real-life case. The model is validated by showing that the simulated results agree well with the field data. In the approach channel, the tidal current shows a deflection effect especially in the bottom layer. As for Lianyungang Harbor, a jet flow forms at the tip of the northern breakwater, which drives a circulation flow at the inner side of the harbor entrance. In the vertical, the flow is significantly stratified at the entrance section within the channel, where the flow direction varies between layers and the speed distribution is quite uniform. These 3-D features become less evident to the offshore. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis shows that the flow deflection is related to the channel depth. Simulation results also imply that the siltation rate at the entrance section of the approach channel tends to be more uniform by the 3-D flow motion feature, and could be more significant with the increase of the channel depth.