Physical and numerical modelling of trench infill

Physical modelling of trench infill, for trenches perpendicular to the flow direction, was undertaken in the Fast Flow Facility at HR Wallingford. Parameters including trench width, flow velocity (including reversing tidal flow), and the presence of berms along the sides of the trench were varied. Following the experiments, a numerical model was constructed with the T0 bathymetry from the physical model used as the starting numerical model bathymetry, allowing direct comparison between models. Numerical model parameters were tuned to represent the physical modelling results, with the calibrated model then used to predict infill rates for other scenarios modelled in the Fast Flow Facility.