Wave-Structure Interaction Processes in Coastal Engineering

Among one of the most challenging engineering problems, fluid-structure interaction processes are complex phenomena that have received much attention over the years [...

Feasibility of Tsunami Early Warning Systems for small volcanic islands

Abstract. This paper investigates the feasibility of Tsunami Early Warning Systems for small volcanic islands focusing on warning of waves generated by landslides at the coast of the island itself. The critical concern is if there is enough time to spread the alarm once the system has recognized that a tsunami has been generated. We use the results of a large scale physical model experiment in order to estimate the time that tsunamis take to travel around the island inundating the coast. We discuss how and where it is convenient to place instruments for the measurement of the waves

Algorithms for Automatic, Real-Time Tsunami Detection in Sea Level Measurements

Automatic, real-time tsunami detection in sea-level measurements is a main component of a tsunami early warning system (TEWS). Although a great effort has been recently undertaken by the scientific and engineering community in developing new technologies (e.g. satellite altimetry, detectors of low-frequency elastic oscillations associated to a tsunami) capable of increasing the awareness of potential tsunamis in the minimum amount of time, at present direct detection in sea level measurements is still the main mean to confirm their actual generation and propagation, i.e. to upgrade or cancel the rapid initial warning usually given on the sole basis of seismic data. The paper describes the best available algorithms and numerical techniques which can be used for automatic real-time tsunami detection by using sea level measurements. The paper takes into consideration all possible device and locations for the sea level detection

Groundwater Levels in a Drained Beach in Long and Short Waves Conditions

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Estimation of layer coefficients of cubipod homogeneous low-crested structures using physical and numerical model placement tests

[EN] Homogeneous low-crested structures (HLCSs) on hard seabed are designed to protect beaches and regenerate coral reefs. The height of a HLCS depends on the placement grid which determines the crest freeboard, wave transmission and concrete consumption. In real seafloor conditions, it is not easy to define feasible placement grids for HLCSs on uneven sea bottoms. In this study, the parameters of the numerical model Bullet Physics Engine (BPE) are calibrated and validated using the results of small-scale physical model placement tests of fivelayer Cubipod HLCSs on horizontal rigid bottom. The BPE model showed a low sensitivity to variations in the calibrated parameters; the numerical model estimated the layer coefficients with global mean relative errors of 1.04% and 1.39% in the triangular and rectangular placements grids, respectively. Once the numerical model was calibrated, new numerical and physical model tests on a 4% rigid bottom slope were compared for validation. A five-layer Cubipod HLCS on a 4% bottom slope was simulated using the BPE numerical model showing a global mean relative error of 2.75% compared to the small-scale physical model tests. A good agreement was found between numerical and physical model tests of five-layer Cubipod HLCSs on both horizontal as well as 4% rigid bottom slope. The BPE numerical model was found a suitable tool to estimate the structure height of HLCSs and to optimize placement grids of HLCSs on real cases with hard sea bottom.The authors thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions, the financial support of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (Grant RTI 2018-101073-B-I00) and also Karel De Keyser and Elias Jacobs for conducting the physical placement test.Molines, J.; Centi, R.; Di Risio, M.; Medina, JR. (2021). Estimation of layer coefficients of cubipod homogeneous low-crested structures using physical and numerical model placement tests. Coastal Engineering. 168:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2021.103901S11116

Engineering Tools for the Estimation of Dredging-Induced Sediment Resuspension and Coastal Environmental Management

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to environmental impacts that may result from resuspension, sedimentation and increase in concentration of chemicals during dredging activities. Dredging dislodges and resuspends bottom sediments that are not captured by dredge-head movements. Resuspended sediments are advected far from the dredging site as a dredging plume and the increase in the suspended solid concentration (SSC) can strongly differ, in time and space, depending on site and operational conditions. Well-established international guidelines often include numerical modelling applications to support environmental studies related to dredging activities. Despite the attention that has been focused on this issue, there is a lack of verified predictive techniques of plume dynamics at progressive distances from the different dredging sources, as a function of the employed dredging techniques and work programs, i.e., spatial and temporal variation of resuspension source. This chapter illustrates predictive techniques to estimate the SSC arising from dredges with different mechanisms of sediment release and to assess the spatial and temporal variability of the resulting plume in estuarine and coastal areas. Predictive tools are aimed to support technical choices during planning and operational phases and to better plan the location and frequency of environmental monitoring activities during dredging execution

A Sterescopic System to Measure Water Waves in Laboratories

A new system for estimating the synthetic parameters of sea states during physical investigations has been implemented. The technique proposed herein is based on stereographic analysis of digital images acquired with optical sensors. A series of ad hoc floating markers has been made and properly moored to the bottom of a large wave tank to estimate the synthetic parameters of generated waves. The implemented acquisition system and the proposed algorithm provide automatic recognition of all markers by a pair of optical sensors that synchronously captures their instantaneous location and tracks their movements over time. After transformation from the image to the real-world coordinates, water surface elevation time series have been obtained. Several experimental tests have been carried out to assess the feasibility and reliability of the proposed approach. The estimated wave synthetic parameters have been then compared with those obtained by employing standard resistive probes. The deviation were found to be equal to ~6% for the significant wave height and 1% for peak, mean, and significant wave periods