AdvancedTopic 91 of 112Civil & Structural
Coastal and harbour engineering
Breakwaters and shoreline protection manage waves and sediment.
In depth
Coastal engineering deals with waves, tides, storm surge and sediment transport. Structures: breakwaters, seawalls, groynes, jetties, revetments. Harbour design includes navigation channels, berths, quays and dredging. Sea-level rise requires adaptation.
Key points
- Wave height and period
- Longshore drift
- Armour units (tetrapods, Accropode)
ExampleRubble-mound breakwaters shelter port basins from waves.
What is Coastal and harbour engineering?
Breakwaters and shoreline protection manage waves and sediment.
Why is it important to understand coastal and harbour engineering?
Coastal works protect shorelines and harbours from waves and erosion, so their design depends on wave climate and sediment movement.
What is a breakwater?
A structure that reduces wave energy in a sheltered area, such as a harbour, by reflecting or dissipating waves.
What is longshore drift?
The movement of sediment along the coast by waves approaching at an angle, which can erode one area while building up another.
How is Coastal and harbour engineering used in practice?
Typical applications include designing a rubble-mound breakwater to protect a harbour entrance, building a groyne to trap sand on a beach and choosing a seawall design for a town on an eroding coast.
What should I learn before Coastal and harbour engineering?
Study "Flood management" first (topic 90 of 112 in Civil & Structural). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Coastal and harbour engineering?
Wave height and period. Longshore drift. Armour units (tetrapods, Accropode).
Can you give an example of Coastal and harbour engineering?
Rubble-mound breakwaters shelter port basins from waves.
What comes after Coastal and harbour engineering?
The next topic is "Transportation planning", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Coastal and harbour engineering?
It is classed as Advanced in Civil & Structural (topic 91 of 112). It is an advanced topic. It assumes you are comfortable with the intermediate topics in Civil & Structural.