THE DEPTH SEMI-AVERAGED MODEL: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO THE DESCRIPTION OF COASTAL DYNAMICS

In the present work we show some novel applications of the depth semi-averaged model of Antuono et al. (2017) to the description of wave dynamics in the coastal region. The above-mentioned model lies between the classic Boussinesq-type models and the more recent 3D models. It is composed by a subset of depth-averaged equations and by a Poisson equation for a depth semi-averaged quantity, namely the integral of the vertical velocity component from the free surface to a certain quote of the water column. The advantage of such a formulation lies in the fact that the depth semi-averaged model is derived straightforwardly from the Euler equations without using any approximation. Further, it is possible to include the dissipation caused by wave breaking by deriving the model from the Reynolds Averaged equations and providing proper closures for the turbulent terms, as done in Antuono et al. (2022). Starting from the latter work, in the present contribution we discuss applications for both breaking and non-breaking waves.