Dunes constitute a central element in shore-protection designs aimed at preventing inundation and erosion of the upland by storms. In the present study, the dune-erosion mechanism is investigated through field observations of the performance of sand dunes under storm action in Japan and in the United States. The observations are quantified by analysis of three test series carried out in the SUPERTANK project. The SUPERTANK data set includes tests on erosion of an uncompacted and a compacted near-vertical dune by random waves. The SBEACH numerical model of dune erosion and profile change is modified to erode dunes by the force of incident waves. This sediment can then supply the profile change model that demands offshore movement of sand in response to the occurrence of storm waves and elevated water level. The simulations show good agreement with the erosion measured at SUPERTANK for the uncompacted and the compacted dunes.
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