Numerical study on infragravity waves over a barred beach

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of bars on the dynamics of infragravity waves on a dissipative beach. Numerical simulations were performed with the SWASH model with a setup previously validated on a laboratory experiment. Bars increase the significant infragravity wave height across the inner surf zone by up to 25%. This growth is explained by nonlinear energy transfers between infragravity and short waves that occurred over the bar trough. Infragravity wave energy losses near the shoreline are higher, by approximately 30%, for the barred when compared to the unbarred beach profile.