Physical Model Tests in the Framework of Beach Nourishment Performance Evaluation

In the first part of this paper a quick review of the nourishment fundamentals, in terms of benefits and factors promoting the use of such interventions is given at first. The technical issues in nourishment planning are then described considering the specific questions of fill design, of morphological processes and of temporal aspects. In the second part the contribution that physical model tests can give to the beach nourishment performance evaluation is presented and some results obtained by such experimental approach are presented.