Abstract: As a key parameter in hydrodynamic and sediment transport models, bottom shear stress is very important to study the initiation and erosion rates of bottom sediment. At present, there are six theoretical methods for calculating bottom shear stress based on field measured flow velocity data: LPmean method, LPmax method, TKE method, TKEW method, RS method and ID method, all of which have their specific applicable conditions. It is very important to select an appropriate method to calculate the bottom shear stress in the shallow water area of estuarine and coastal areas where the actions of current and wave are complex. In this study, one observation site at Dafeng Doulong Port, Jiangsu Province (median particle size: 68.56 μm) and two observation sites at Eastern Chongming Shoal, Shanghai (median particle size: 12.89 μm and 45.02 μm) were taken as examples. Field data were collected using Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry and wave measurement instrument (RBRwave), and the bottom shear stress was calculated by six theoretical methods. The results show that: (1) The LPmean method is affected by the average velocity, the distance from the probe to bed and the strength of waves, which underestimates the bottom shear stress and is not suitable for shallow water environment in intertidal flat; (2) LPmax method and TKE method can overestimate shear stress in shallow water environment of intertidal flat where flow velocity varies greatly and wave action is obvious; (3) TKEW method was modified on the basis of TKE method, which is more suitable for solving the bottom shear stress under strong wave action; (4) The results of RS method are affected by waves, and the results of ID method are more reliable than those of RS method when large waves exist, but ID method will overestimate the bottom shear stress when water depth is insufficient.

Key words:  intertidal flat, bottom boundary layer, bottom shear stress, wave, ADV