Numerical Modeling of Storm-Induced Beach Erosion, Folly Beach, South Carolina, Beach Fill Alternatives

Hales, Lyndell Z.; Byrnes, Mark R.; Dowd, Millard W.; ,

Numerical Modeling of Storm-Induced Beach Erosion, Folly Beach, South Carolina, Beach Fill Alternatives

by Lyndell Z. Hales, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways, Experiment Station, Vicksburg, United States,
Mark R. Byrnes, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways, Experiment Station, Vicksburg, United States,
Millard W. Dowd, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways, Experiment Station, Vicksburg, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '91

Abstract:

The U.S. Army Engineer District, Charleston (SAC), is developing a National Economic Development (NED) Plan for providing northeaster and hurricane storm protection for the municipality of Folly Beach, South Carolina. As part of the overall investigation, SAC requested U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES), Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC), to apply the numerical simulation model Storm-Induced BEAch CHange (SBEACH) to evaluate cross-shore transport of beach material exposed to varying waves and water level under northeaster and hurricane storm events. SBEACH was used to evaluate dune, beach, and berm elevation changes resulting from northeasters (1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-year recurrence events) and hurricanes (5-, 10-, 20-, 50-, and 100-year recurrence events), for existing condition, the 1979 Authorized Project plan, two alternative plans (Alternatives A and B) at the same berm elevation as the 1979 Authorized Project plan but with greater berm widths, and four storm beach fill alternatives (2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-year levels of protection). Whether the dune stabilization structures would fail under various storm events was determined, and the extent of horizontal and vertical dune erosion after structure failure was evaluated. Horizontal erosion carries implications regarding undermining and collapse of structures, with ensuing property losses. Vertical dune erosion may result in flooding and inundation by surge, with accompanying storm waves attacking otherwise protected buildings and property.

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