An experimental research of the stability of sand-gravel mixed beaches

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23760453
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hydraulic engineering
• Research Institution: Independent Administrative Institution Port and Airport Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: TAKAGAWA Tomohiro 独立行政法人港湾空港技術研究所, 海洋情報・津波研究領域, 研究官 (30451785)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 混合粒径 / 砂礫混合海浜 / 海岸地形 / 漂砂 / RFID

Outline of Final Research Achievements

On gravel beaches, measuring the displacement of individual grains is essential in order to understand sediment transport processes and beach morphology. Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technique makes us possible to detect and trace individual gravels marked by passive integrated transponders (PIT). Field test was conducted on a sand-gravel mixed beach. 190 painted gravels with PIT tags were released on the foreshore and traced for one month. The traceability of the RFID technique was roughly four times more efficient than the visual search. During some high wave events, gravels tend to accumulate on foreshore. On the contrary, in moderate wave conditions, foreshore tended to be regressive. The result is not consistent with a general understanding of beach morphology of uniform sediments. Based on the result of field survey, we conclude that effective sediment components changes due to sediment segregation by waves.

Free Research Field

海岸工学