Free-surface flow in a tidal bank - Comparison between theory and experimentation

Water-soil interactions affect the behaviour of structures, especially in c oastal or estuarine areas with many harbours and tourism amenities. The equ ilibrium between banks and structures is disturbed by periodical variations of tidal flow. The purpose of this paper is the study of free surface flow in a tidal bank. A global scientific approach is proposed that closely ass ociates modeling, laboratory, and in situ tests. The comparison of these ap proaches demonstrates a good overall agreement of results, the existence of a disturbed area that undergoes important variations in velocities and pre ssures, the existence of an equilibrium level within the embankment higher than the mean tide level and close to the high tide level. This modelling a nd experimental approach allows us to obtain a set of original results, of tremendous potential interest, leading to the understanding of the behaviou r of intertidal areas.