Experiment plan 
The DELILAH array consisted of four subarrays that were interdependent. 
The primary cross-shore sub-array contained nine current meters and nine 
pressure wave gauges situated approximately 500 m north of the pier. Two 
other sub-arrays were positioned longshore, perpendicular to the cross-shore 
sub-array. Each consisted of one gauge from the cross-shore array where the 
longshore arrays intersected it. Five additional current meters placed in the 
trough region, and four placed slightly seaward of the nearshore bar crest, 
completed these sub-arrays (Figure 2). A final instrument package was 
positioned between the two longshore arrays forming a secondary cross-shore 
sub-array approximately 100 meters south of the primary cross-shore sub- 
array. All of the instruments in the DELILAH array extended across the 
typical position of the nearshore bar and were designed to sample in conditions 
generated by incident waves with significant heights up to 1.5 m. Dr. Edward 
Thornton of the Naval Postgraduate School provided the design and 
instruments for the primary cross-shore array and, with help from Rob 
Wyland, Katie Scott, and others, collected all of the data from the DELILAH 
array. The instruments in the other subarrays were provided by Scripps 
Institution of Oceanography and by the FRF. 
FRF and Oregon State University video cameras were mounted on the 
FRF's observation tower to record swash and other surf zone processes. Five 
radar systems operated by the Naval Research Laboratory monitored the 
waves, currents, and bathymetry. Daily surveys conducted by the FRF’s 
Coastal Research Amphibious Buggy (CRAB) documented changes to the 
bathymetry in a small 550-m by 375-m gridded area that surrounded the 
DELILAH array. This region will be referred to as the “minigrid” throughout 
the remainder of this report. Analysis of the current and bathymetry data 
collected during the 1986 SUPERDUCK experiment’ helped in designing the 
instrument array. 
The 8-m,13-m, and DELILAH arrays are shown in Figure 2. As in 
previous Duck experiments, the minigrid was located north of the FRF pier, 
open to storm waves from the northeast, and in an area typically characterized 
by shore-parallel contours. The southern end of the minigrid was within the 
shadow zone of the FRF pier for waves approaching from the southeast. 
DELILAH commenced in the final weeks of September 1990 when the 
instruments were mounted on pipes (Figures 3 and 4) and deployed from the 
CRAB (Figure 5). Current meters were positioned so as to be submerged 
during low tide and to remain above the highest expected bed level (Figure 6). 
1Birkemeier, W.A., et. Al (1989). “SUPERDUCK Nearshore Processes Experiment Data Summary: 
CERC Field Research Facility,” Miscellaneous Paper CERC-89-16, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways 
Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS. 
Chapter 1 Introduction 
