Numerical simulation of wave scour around a large-scale circular cylinder

A numerical model is developed for estimation of local scour around a large circular cylinder under wave action. The model includes wave diffraction around structures, bed shear stress calculation inside the wave boundary layer and topographical change model. The wave model is based on the improved Boussinesq equations for varying depth. The wave boundary layer is calculated by solving the integrated momentum equation over the boundary layer. The bed shear stress due to streaming, an important factor affecting the sediment transport around a large-scale cylinder, is calculated. The Lagrangian drift velocity is included in calculation of the suspended sediment transport rates. The model is implemented by a finite element method and the results from the present model, which agree well with experimental data, are compared with those from other methods.