A soft coastal defence system for the Belgium East Coast

Both a physical scale model and numerical simulations are used to validate the impact and efficiency of different sand supplement techniques to protect the coastal reach before Knokke at the Flemish east coast. A fundamental insight into the morphological behaviour of artificial beach nourishment can lead to a more reliable, scientifically based and from that economical coastal defence system. The experiments are conducted in a computer-controlled 2D-wave tank installation at Flanders Hydraulics Laboratory in Borgerhout. The morphological evolution of several representative bathymetries are recorded during characteristical tidal cycles. Comparison with existing field measurements reveals the similarities and shortcomings in the physical scale tests and the computer calculations. Some alternative Suppletion forms are already suggested.