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. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd