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The impacts of large-scale coastal structures on tidal dynamics have been studied extensively over the past decades, but the relevant mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, a two-dimensional Delft3D barotropic tidal model is applied to investigate the tidal dynamic changes induced by the large-scale sequential constructions of Huanghua-Binzhou Harbor in the northeastern China during year 2003–2016. It was found that the predominant M 2 tide is increased on the stoss side and decreased on the lee side of the harbor by 2–6 cm due to the harbor constructions. This feature is due to 1) the increased and decreased potential tidal energy on the stoss and lee side, respectively, by the harbor structures; 2) the structure-induced changes in momentum flux is balanced by pressure gradient, and thus leads to a larger tidal range on the stoss side and a smaller tidal range on the lee side. The sensitivity studies on nonlinear M 4 tide demonstrate that it is generated locally by M 2 self-self interaction, which is not only related to M 2 tidal energy but also nonlinearity. Consequently, M 4 tide increases towards the shore on the tidal flat with natural slope due to enhanced nonlinearity by decreasing water depth, but is proportional to M 2 tide on the tidal flat with a constant water depth, where local nonlinearity is nearly the same in space. In addition, the energy transfer from M 2 to M 4 is affected by the structure-induced changes in nonlinearity, resulting in different responses of M 2 and M 4 tide to the coastal structure. • Numerically investigate the tidal dynamics changes induced by the large-scale sequential constructions. • Predominant M 2 tide increased on the stoss side and decreased on the lee side of the harbor jetties. • Structure-induced changes in current acceleration is balanced by the changes in pressure gradient. • M 4 tide is generated locally by M 2 self-self interaction, which is relative to M 2 tidal energy and local nonlinearity. • Three prominent separated bands of tidal energy density appear in the third harbor construction phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]