Hydraulic performance and wave transmission through nature-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater

Duong Tran Anh; Trinh Cong Dan; Phong Nguyen Thanh; Ahad Hasan Tanim; David Wright; Nhat Truong Pham; Tien Nguyen Anh

doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120423

Hydraulic performance and wave transmission through nature-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater

Duong Tran Anh, Trinh Cong Dan, Phong Nguyen Thanh, Ahad Hasan Tanim, David Wright, Nhat Truong Pham, Tien Nguyen Anh

Water Resources Science & Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are critical to achieving long-term sustainable coastlines in deltaic coastlines, particularly susceptible to severe impacts under climate change. In recent years, coastal erosion has accelerated in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD), particularly in the West Sea (from Ca Mau to Kien Giang). Due to the characteristics of muddy coastlines and eroded mangrove forests in this region, only a few engineering solutions have effectively reduced waves and promoted sediment accumulation to facilitate beach accretion. However, these solutions require significant investment and cannot be relocated or reused. Therefore, this study introduces a coastal mangrove-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater (PHBPB), which uses the principle of biomimicry by studying the ability of mangrove groups to protect the coastline, stimulate sediment deposition, and over time, restore mangrove forests in the VMD. The hydraulic parameters of PHBPB were tested in 260 scenarios using a physical model, which included varying parameters such as crest width (B), pile row numbers (n_c), crest freeboard (R_c), and wave parameters (H_s, T_p) in determining the capabilities of wave transmission, reflection, and wave dissipation. The results showed that the process of wave energy dissipation through perforated hollow-base breakwaters without piles (PHBBWP) is governed by three main parameters, including the relative water depth of the crest (R_c/H_m0,i), the relative width of the crest (B/H_m0,i), and the wave slope at the structure location (s_m = H_m0,i/L_m). In contrast, for PHBPB, the primary influencing factors are the relative submergence depth or the length of the submerged pile portion (R_c/H_m0,i) and the relative width of the pile system (X_b/L_m). The hollow structure is suitable for the soft, weak mud geology in this region with poor load-bearing capacity, allows for rapid installation, is reasonably cost-effective, and can be relocated and reused once regeneration has been completed in each stretch of coastline.

Original language	English
Article number	120423
Journal	Ocean Engineering
Volume	322
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120423
State	Published - Apr 1 2025

Funding

We would like to thank supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Vietnam for a national project (No. ĐTĐL.CN-09/17) with the title “Studying reasonable solutions and appropriate technology to prevent erosion and stabilize the coast in the Mekong Delta, from Ca Mau Cape to Ha Tien” for applying the results of this research to design a field test project (L = 202 m). In addition, we would like to thank Prof. Thieu Quang Tuan from Thuy Loi University of Vietnam for his guidance, advice, and comments on how to make the research successful. Ahad Hasan Tanim is an employee of UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US DOE. Accordingly, the US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so, for US Government purposes. The main objective of the current study is to determine whether a breakwater inspired by an NbS is suitable for protecting a deltaic coastal environment. Drawing upon insights from our prior research endeavors ( Tien, 2019a , 2019b , 2019c ; Tien and Tuan, 2020 , 2019 ), and was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Vietnam in a national project (No. ĐTĐL.CN-09/17) for applying the results of this research to design a field test in the project: “Studying reasonable solutions and appropriate technology to prevent erosion and stabilize the coast in the Mekong Delta, from Ca Mau Cape to Ha Tien”. This study has conducted physical wave tank experiments to analyze the wave transmission characteristics of the PHBPB under diverse wave conditions, which are complemented by field measurements. To enhance the sustainable NbS design features uniquely suited for the deltaic environment with muddy sediment substrate, the essential design objectives of the PHBPB are: We would like to thank supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Vietnam for a national project (No. ĐTĐL.CN-09/17): “Studying reasonable solutions and appropriate technology to prevent erosion and stabilize the coast in the Mekong Delta, from Ca Mau Cape to Ha Tien” for applying the results of this research to design a field test project (L = 202m). In addition, we would like to thank Prof. Thieu Quang Tuan from Thuy Loi University of Vietnam for his guidance, advice, and comments on how to make the research successful. Ahad Hasan Tanim is an employee of UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US DOE. Accordingly, the US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so, for US Government purposes.

Keywords

Coastal mangrove
Hollow base breakwater
Nature-based solution
West sea

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10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120423

Cite this

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title = "Hydraulic performance and wave transmission through nature-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater",

abstract = "Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are critical to achieving long-term sustainable coastlines in deltaic coastlines, particularly susceptible to severe impacts under climate change. In recent years, coastal erosion has accelerated in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD), particularly in the West Sea (from Ca Mau to Kien Giang). Due to the characteristics of muddy coastlines and eroded mangrove forests in this region, only a few engineering solutions have effectively reduced waves and promoted sediment accumulation to facilitate beach accretion. However, these solutions require significant investment and cannot be relocated or reused. Therefore, this study introduces a coastal mangrove-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater (PHBPB), which uses the principle of biomimicry by studying the ability of mangrove groups to protect the coastline, stimulate sediment deposition, and over time, restore mangrove forests in the VMD. The hydraulic parameters of PHBPB were tested in 260 scenarios using a physical model, which included varying parameters such as crest width (B), pile row numbers (nc), crest freeboard (Rc), and wave parameters (Hs, Tp) in determining the capabilities of wave transmission, reflection, and wave dissipation. The results showed that the process of wave energy dissipation through perforated hollow-base breakwaters without piles (PHBBWP) is governed by three main parameters, including the relative water depth of the crest (Rc/Hm0,i), the relative width of the crest (B/Hm0,i), and the wave slope at the structure location (sm = Hm0,i/Lm). In contrast, for PHBPB, the primary influencing factors are the relative submergence depth or the length of the submerged pile portion (Rc/Hm0,i) and the relative width of the pile system (Xb/Lm). The hollow structure is suitable for the soft, weak mud geology in this region with poor load-bearing capacity, allows for rapid installation, is reasonably cost-effective, and can be relocated and reused once regeneration has been completed in each stretch of coastline.",

keywords = "Coastal mangrove, Hollow base breakwater, Nature-based solution, West sea",

author = "Anh, \{Duong Tran\} and Dan, \{Trinh Cong\} and Thanh, \{Phong Nguyen\} and Tanim, \{Ahad Hasan\} and David Wright and Pham, \{Nhat Truong\} and \{Nguyen Anh\}, Tien",

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doi = "10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120423",

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T1 - Hydraulic performance and wave transmission through nature-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater

AU - Anh, Duong Tran

AU - Dan, Trinh Cong

AU - Thanh, Phong Nguyen

AU - Tanim, Ahad Hasan

AU - Wright, David

AU - Pham, Nhat Truong

AU - Nguyen Anh, Tien

PY - 2025/4/1

Y1 - 2025/4/1

N2 - Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are critical to achieving long-term sustainable coastlines in deltaic coastlines, particularly susceptible to severe impacts under climate change. In recent years, coastal erosion has accelerated in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD), particularly in the West Sea (from Ca Mau to Kien Giang). Due to the characteristics of muddy coastlines and eroded mangrove forests in this region, only a few engineering solutions have effectively reduced waves and promoted sediment accumulation to facilitate beach accretion. However, these solutions require significant investment and cannot be relocated or reused. Therefore, this study introduces a coastal mangrove-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater (PHBPB), which uses the principle of biomimicry by studying the ability of mangrove groups to protect the coastline, stimulate sediment deposition, and over time, restore mangrove forests in the VMD. The hydraulic parameters of PHBPB were tested in 260 scenarios using a physical model, which included varying parameters such as crest width (B), pile row numbers (nc), crest freeboard (Rc), and wave parameters (Hs, Tp) in determining the capabilities of wave transmission, reflection, and wave dissipation. The results showed that the process of wave energy dissipation through perforated hollow-base breakwaters without piles (PHBBWP) is governed by three main parameters, including the relative water depth of the crest (Rc/Hm0,i), the relative width of the crest (B/Hm0,i), and the wave slope at the structure location (sm = Hm0,i/Lm). In contrast, for PHBPB, the primary influencing factors are the relative submergence depth or the length of the submerged pile portion (Rc/Hm0,i) and the relative width of the pile system (Xb/Lm). The hollow structure is suitable for the soft, weak mud geology in this region with poor load-bearing capacity, allows for rapid installation, is reasonably cost-effective, and can be relocated and reused once regeneration has been completed in each stretch of coastline.

AB - Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are critical to achieving long-term sustainable coastlines in deltaic coastlines, particularly susceptible to severe impacts under climate change. In recent years, coastal erosion has accelerated in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD), particularly in the West Sea (from Ca Mau to Kien Giang). Due to the characteristics of muddy coastlines and eroded mangrove forests in this region, only a few engineering solutions have effectively reduced waves and promoted sediment accumulation to facilitate beach accretion. However, these solutions require significant investment and cannot be relocated or reused. Therefore, this study introduces a coastal mangrove-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater (PHBPB), which uses the principle of biomimicry by studying the ability of mangrove groups to protect the coastline, stimulate sediment deposition, and over time, restore mangrove forests in the VMD. The hydraulic parameters of PHBPB were tested in 260 scenarios using a physical model, which included varying parameters such as crest width (B), pile row numbers (nc), crest freeboard (Rc), and wave parameters (Hs, Tp) in determining the capabilities of wave transmission, reflection, and wave dissipation. The results showed that the process of wave energy dissipation through perforated hollow-base breakwaters without piles (PHBBWP) is governed by three main parameters, including the relative water depth of the crest (Rc/Hm0,i), the relative width of the crest (B/Hm0,i), and the wave slope at the structure location (sm = Hm0,i/Lm). In contrast, for PHBPB, the primary influencing factors are the relative submergence depth or the length of the submerged pile portion (Rc/Hm0,i) and the relative width of the pile system (Xb/Lm). The hollow structure is suitable for the soft, weak mud geology in this region with poor load-bearing capacity, allows for rapid installation, is reasonably cost-effective, and can be relocated and reused once regeneration has been completed in each stretch of coastline.

KW - Coastal mangrove

KW - Hollow base breakwater

KW - Nature-based solution

KW - West sea

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85215934148

U2 - 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120423

DO - 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.120423

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85215934148

SN - 0029-8018

VL - 322

JO - Ocean Engineering

JF - Ocean Engineering

M1 - 120423

ER -

Hydraulic performance and wave transmission through nature-inspired perforated hollow-base piles breakwater

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Keywords

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