Hydraulic Model Investigation: Functional Design of Control Structures for Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.

• Main Authors: Hollyfield,Noel W, McCoy,James W, Seabergh,William C
• Other Authors: ARMY ENGINEER WATERWAYS EXPERIMENT STATION VICKSBURG MS HYDRAULICS LAB
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1983
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Civil Engineering; *Inlets(Waterways); North Atlantic Ocean; North Carolina; Water flow; Ocean currents; Ocean tides; Sedimentation; Control systems; Waterfront structures; Model tests; Hydraulic models; Oregon inlet; Jetties; Hydraulic structures; Barrier Islands; Open Bay; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA131999; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA131999

Oregon Inlet, the northernmost inlet through North Carolina's barrier islands known as the Outer Banks, is a natural channel conducting flow between the Atlantic Ocean and extensive open bay sounds. As is typical of many natural inlets, navigation through the inlet can be dangerous due to shallow shifting sand shoals. The necessity of continued maintenance dredging and the exposure of commercial and private craft to shoaling and breaking waves indicate that inlet stabilization by jetties is desirable and should be investigated. The design study for the Manteno (Shallowbag) Bay Project included construction and testing of a physical model of Oregon Inlet. Model testing included the study of jetty alignment, length, and spacing and the effects of the jetty structures on tidal exchange and on the flow through Bonner Bridge. It was concluded that the plan 2 jetty alignment with 2,500-, 3,500-, or 5,00-ft spacing would not negatively impact the tidal exchange, storm surge flows, or flow through Bonner Bridge. However, the larger spacings may permit bifurcation of the entrance channel or a more curvilinear channel.