Scour Characteristics of Artificial Reef through Experiment and Numerical Analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the scour characteristics of artificial reef according to unreinforced and reinforced artificial reefs through laboratory test and numerical analysis. In this study, geogrid was used as a reinforcement of seabed. Three different reinforced areas were selected; one time, three times and five times bottom area of artificial reef. Two-dimensional water channel test was carried out to investigate scour patten of sand and silt grounds. Numerical analysis was also performed to see the velocity vector and scouring patten around artificial reef which was same condition with experiment. The numerical results were in good agreements with the experimental test results. It was found that the geogrid-installed soft ground under artificial reef tends to reduce scour, compared to unreinforced soft ground.