Numerical modeling of shoreline undulations part 1: Constant wave climate

This paper presents a numerical study of the non-linear development of alongshore undulations up to fully developed quasi-steady equilibrium. A numerical model which describes the longshore sediment transport along arbitrarily shaped shorelines is applied, based on a spectral wave model, a depth integrated flow model, a wave-phase resolving sediment transport description and a one-line shoreline model.First the length of the shoreline undulations is determined in the linear regime using a stability analysis. Next the further evolution from the linear to the fully non-linear regime is described. In the fully non-linear regime down-drift spits and migrating shoreline undulations are described.Three different shoreline shapes are found depending on the wave conditions: undulations with no spits, undulations with shore parallel spit and undulations with reconnecting spits.

► Alongshore shoreline undulations are described using a numerical model. ► The length, width and shape of the undulations are predicted. ► The non-linear evolution of the undulations is described. ► The physical mechanisms governing the undulations are analyzed.