Prebreaking internal velocity field induced by a solitary wave propagating over a 1:10 slope

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the internal velocity field induced by a solitary wave propagating over a 1:10 slope. Flow visualization techniques and high time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) were performed to resolve the velocity field. Different ratios of wave height to water depth as incident wave conditions were applied in the experiments. Test results show that the maximum runup velocity increases gradually along the slope before the solitary wave reaches its breaking point. Similarity of the velocity profile in the prebreaking area among different wave conditions can be obtained if adequate velocity and length scales are employed. Characteristics of the maximum negative velocity of the rundown flow were also studied. After carefully choosing its position reference, similarity of the maximum adverse velocity profile can be obtained as well.