SEDIMENTATION AT AN INLET ENTRANCE 
Rudee Inlet-Virginia Beach, Virginia 
by 
W. Harrison i 
U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C., and 
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia 
W. C. Krumbein 
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 
and 
W. S. Wilson 
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Marylandl 
ABSTRACT 
A physical model is presented of the wave, longshore- 
current, and ebb~-tidal-current systems as they determine the 
distribution of mean particle size and the degree of sorting 
at the mouth of a controlled inlet. The model is based upon 
theoretical considerations as well as observations on both 
scale-model and natural inlets. Forty-one bottom samples 
were taken at Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach, Virginia, under 
conditions appropriate for testing the model. Resultant size 
and sorting data were subjected to trend-surface analysis in 
an effort to verify trends predicted by the model. Corres- 
pondence between the model and the natural situation was 
found to be good. The pattern, magnitude, and extent of inlet 
influence on the otherwise unmodified beach sediments could be 
determined by subtracting a trend surface for mean size for 
the unmodified beach from its counterpart for the area of the 
inlet entrance. The area of inlet-current influence was found 
to be rather limited in extent. 
lpresent address. Study completed while at the Virginia Institute 
of Marine Science. 
