The effectiveness of the combination of breakwater and trench in reducing waves

Abstract

Coastal areas are increasingly threatened by climate change, leading to rising sea levels and more intense storms that accelerate erosion and damage coastal infrastructure. This study investigates a novel approach to coastal protection by combining breakwater and trench structures to reduce wave energy and protect shorelines from erosion. Using the Shallow Water Equations (SWE) model with leapfrog and Lax-Wendroff finite difference schemes, we simulate the interaction of waves with these structures over varying bottom topographies. Our research reveals that wave reduction is more effective with higher breakwaters and deeper trenches. An optimal configuration was identified with a breakwater height of 6 meters and a trench depth of 14 meters, combined with a breakwater length of 2 meters and a trench length of 3 meters, achieving a wave energy reduction of approximately 8.3%. These findings highlight the potential of this combined approach to enhance coastal defense strategies, offering a robust solution for increasing resilience against climate change.