Author(s): Mahadevan Aparna; Nandhakumar Saichenthur; Kantharaj Murali

Linked Author(s): Kantharaj Murali

Keywords: Hydrodynamics; Bed level change; Mud transport; Validation

Abstract: Creeks are complex dynamic systems that serve as a transition zone between terrestrial and marine environments. Thane creek, located adjacent to the cities of Mumbai and Thane at latitude 19.0374° N, longitude 72.9815° E, in the state of Maharashtra, India, is connected to Arabian sea through a wide tidal inlet. The morphological changes occurs as a result of erosion of sediments, subsequent sediment transport and deposition over the Thane creek, which hosts two major ports of India, the Mumbai Port Trust and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. In the present study, a comprehensive hydro-morphodynamic model is applied to simulate complex hydrodynamic and morphodynamics in Thane creek. The bed evolution model relies on a complete description of the flow field through two-way coupling with the flow module. The sediment transport rates are calculated, change in bed levels are predicted and subsequently predicted bed level change is fed back to the hydrodynamic module. The sediment analysis of Thane creek suggests the presence of both silt and clay, hence in addition to the total sediment transport model, a mud transport module is also integrated with the bed evolution model. The importance of mud transport module integration with the bed evolution model in this hydro-morphodynamic set up is evaluated through statistical approaches. The results indicates that the velocity range near Thane creek during neap to neap condition is about 0.15–1.1 m/s. The bed level changes near Thane creek is found to be 0.05–0.15 m/N-N cycle which is validated with the field measurements.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-6009-1_36

Year: 2022