Scaled versus real-scale tests: Identifying scale and model errors in wave damping through woody vegetation

Vegetation in front of levees, dikes and seawalls can decrease wave energy and therefore contribute to the safety against flooding. However, wave damping predictions by vegetation are still inaccurate due to measurement and modelling uncertainties. Many studies focused on finding reliable predictive tools using scaled flume tests with...

Experimental investigation of wave attenuation by mangrove forests with submerged canopies

Mangroves can function as a ‘bio-shield’ to protect coastal communities from harsh environments because of their strong ability to attenuate wave energy. However, as mangroves are usually oversimplified as rigid cylinders in antecedent studies, the effects of complex mangrove morphology on wave attenuation have not been well researched....

Field-based decadal wave attenuating capacity of combined tidal flats and salt marshes

Foreshores consisting of both bare tidal flats and vegetated salt marshes are found worldwide and they are well studied for their wave attenuating capacity. However, most studies only focus on the small scale: just some isolated locations in space and only up to several years in time. In order to stimulate the implementation of foreshores...

Wave attenuation in coastal mangroves: Mangrove squeeze in the mekong delta

This study explores the influence of the wave characteristics on the attenuation process of waves through coastal mangroves, which are threatened by the coastal mangrove squeeze phenomenon. Coastal mangrove squeeze is the phenomenon where coastal regions, even when sediment availability is sufficient, are eroding due to a lack of accommodation...

Assessing safety of nature-based flood defenses: Dealing with extremes and uncertainties

Vegetated foreshores adjacent to engineered structures (so-called hybrid flood defenses), are considered to have high potential in reducing flood risk, even in the face of sea level rise and increasing storminess. However, foreshores such as salt marshes and mangrove forests are generally characterized by relatively strong temporal and...

Stem breakage of salt marsh vegetation under wave forcing: A field and model study

One of the services provided by coastal ecosystems is wave attenuation by vegetation, and subsequent reduction of wave loads on flood defense structures. Therefore, stability of vegetation under wave forcing is an important factor to consider. This paper presents a model which determines the wave load that plant stems can withstand before...

Experimental pressure wave research at NLR for high-speed rail tunnels

Pressure waves, that are generated when a high speed train enters a tiinnel, can cause annoyance to train passengers (rapid pressure fluctuations acting on the train) and for people living near the tunnel (micro-pressure wave). To improve train passenger comfort the effect of various pressure relieving measures (i.e. shafts and porous walls)...