Hydrodynamics in the swash zone

This paper describes a study of the hydrodynamics in the swash zone using a n impermeable concrete beach in a laboratory flume. Analysis was made of th e measurements achieved using level wave gauges and a laser Doppler velocim eter. From these measurements we could derive the mean motion and turbulenc e characteristics along the main flow direction in 3 vertical sections of t he swash zone. Fluid velocity seems almost uniform along the vertical, espe cially during the up-rush; the behaviour of turbulence dynamics is a mixtur e of free turbulence generated during wave breaking and convected by the me an motion, and wall turbulence. This work covers analysis in the time and f requency domain, and discusses the turbulent properties of the now field de rived from our measurements.