Experimental investigations on protection effects of vegetation on coastal bridges against extreme waves

Abstract

Coastal bridges play a vital role in supporting transportation and economic activities in coastal regions but are increasingly vulnerable to extreme wave events, exacerbated by climate change and rising sea levels. Traditional engineering solutions, such as seawalls and breakwaters, offer protection but are often expensive and environmentally disruptive. Vegetated coastlines, such as mangroves and salt marshes, have emerged as a sustainable alternative, capable of attenuating wave energy and providing natural protection. However, the mechanisms through which vegetation reduces wave impacts and its practical application to protect coastal bridges remain inadequately understood. This study addresses these gaps through laboratory experiments that investigate the attenuation effects of vegetation on extreme waves under varying initial wave states and vegetation densities. The experimental data are used to perform stochastic analyses to quantify bridge vulnerability under extreme wave scenarios, with and without vegetation protection. The paper presents the experimental design, methods for estimating wave-induced loads on bridge superstructures, and a probabilistic vulnerability model to assess bridge performance. Comparative results highlight the effectiveness of vegetation in mitigating wave loads and reducing bridge vulnerability. Findings from this study could contribute to advancing sustainable coastal protection strategies and provide critical insights for integrating vegetation-based solutions into coastal bridge design and management practices.

Keywords

Coastal bridges / Extreme waves / Vegetation coastline / Vulnerability analysis / Experiment study / Stochastic analysis / Engineering / Civil Engineering / Maritime Engineering

References

[1] AASHTOGuide specifications for bridges vulnerable to coastal storms, 2008Washington DC, United StatesAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

[2] AlamatianE, DadarS, ĐurinB. Simulation of dam breaks on dry bed using finite volume Roe-TVD Method. Hydrology, 2021, 8288.

[3] AtaeiN, PadgettJE. Probabilistic modeling of bridge deck unseating during hurricane events. J Bridg Eng, 2013, 184275-286.

[4] BalomenosGP, KameshwarS, PadgettJE. Parameterized fragility models for multi-bridge classes subjected to hurricane loads. Eng Struct, 2020, 208. 110213

[5] CuomoG, ShimosakoK, TakahashiS. Wave-in-deck loads on coastal bridges and the role of air. Coast Eng, 2009, 568793-809.

[6] Ding Y, Chen Q, Zhu L, Rosati J, Johnson B (2022) Implementation of flexible vegetation into CSHORE for modeling wave attenuation. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210233436id_/https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/jspui/bitstream/11681/43220/1/ERDC-CHL%20TR-22-2.pdf

[7] DouglassSL, McNeillLP, EdgeB. Wave loads on us highway bridges. Coastal Structures, 2009, 2007: 1659-1670.

[8] FengR, ZhuD, DongY. Dynamic performance of simply supported girder bridges subjected to successive earthquake-tsunami events. Adv Bridge Eng, 2022, 3110.

[9] GrecoF, LonettiP. Vulnerability analysis of structural systems under extreme flood events. J Mar Sci Eng, 2022, 1081121.

[10] GrecoF, LonettiP, Nevone BlasiP. Vulnerability analysis of bridge superstructures under extreme fluid actions. J Fluids Struct, 2020, 93: 102843.

[11] Heller V (2012) Development of wave devices from initial conception to commercial demonstration. In: Comprehensive renewable energy. Elsevier, pp. 79–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-087872-0.00804-0

[12] HorstmanEM, Dohmen-JanssenCM, NarraPMF, van den BergNJF, SiemerinkM, HulscherSJMH. Wave attenuation in mangroves: a quantitative approach to field observations. Coast Eng, 2014, 94: 47-62.

[13] IrtemE, GedikN, KabdasliMS, YasaNE. Coastal forest effects on tsunami run-up heights. Ocean Eng, 2009, 363–4313-320.

[14] JiaL, ZhangY, ZhuD, DongY. 3D numerical modeling and quantification of oblique wave forces on coastal bridge superstructures. J Mar Sci Eng, 2022, 107860.

[15] JinJ, MengB. Computation of wave loads on the superstructures of coastal highway bridges. Ocean Eng, 2011, 3817–182185-2200.

[16] JinZH, WeiFF, WuYW, QuK, LuoX, RenXY. Simulations of debris flow impacting on bridge pier based on coupled CFD-DEM method. Ocean Eng, 2023, 279: 114532.

[17] KöblerJ, MaginoN, AndräH, WelschingerF, MüllerR, SchneiderM. A computational multi-scale model for the stiffness degradation of short-fiber reinforced plastics subjected to fatigue loading. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng, 2021, 373: 113522.

[18] KumaraMP, JayatissaLP, KraussKW, PhillipsDH, HuxhamM. High mangrove density enhances surface accretion, surface elevation change, and tree survival in coastal areas susceptible to sea-level rise. Oecologia, 2010, 1642545-553.

[19] LanYJ. Mathematical study on wave propagation through emergent vegetation. Water (Switzerland), 2020, 1221-21.

[20] LiY, ZhaoD, YuG, XieL. Wave height attenuation over a nature-based breakwater of floating emergent vegetation. Sustainability (Switzerland), 2023, 15141-21.

[21] LiuL, YangDY, FrangopolDM. Network-level risk-based framework for optimal bridge adaptation management considering scour and climate change. J Infrastruct Syst, 2020, 26104019037.

[22] MalmstadtJC, ElsnerJB, JaggerTH. Frequency and intensity of hurricanes within Florida’s threat zone. Hurr Clim Change, 2010, 2: 191-203.

[23] MarinJ, SheppardDM. Storm surge and wave loading on bridge superstructures. Structures Congress, 2009, 2009: 1-10.

[24] McPhersonRLHurricane induced wave and surge forces on bridge decks, 2010UnitedStatesTexas A&M University

[25] MondoroA, FrangopolDM, SolimanM. Optimal risk-based management of coastal bridges vulnerable to hurricanes. J Infrastruct Syst, 2017, 23304016046.

[26] MontgomeryJM, BryanKR, HorstmanEM, MullarneyJC. Attenuation of tides and surges by mangroves: contrasting case studies from New Zealand. Water, 2018, 1091119.

[27] OkeilAM, CaiCS. Survey of short- and medium-span bridge damage induced by hurricane katrina. J Bridg Eng, 2008, 134377-387.

[28] PadgettJ, DesRochesR, NielsonB, YashinskyM, KwonO-S, BurdetteN, TaveraE. Bridge damage and repair costs from hurricane Katrina. J Bridg Eng, 2008, 1316-14.

[29] RobertsonIN, RiggsHR, YimSC, YoungYL. Lessons from hurricane Katrina storm surge on bridges and buildings. J Waterw Port Coast Ocean Eng, 2007, 1336463-483.

[30] SariSP, RosalinaD. Mapping and monitoring of mangrove density changes on tin mining area. Procedia Environ Sci, 2016, 33: 436-442.

[31] SongY, JiaJ, LiuH, ChenF, FangQ. Numerical study on tsunami force on coastal bridge decks with superelevation. J Mar Sci Eng, 2023, 114824.

[32] St-GermainP, NistorI, TownsendR. Numerical modeling of the impact with structures of tsunami bores propagating on dry and wet beds using the SPH method. Int J Prot Struct, 2012, 32221-255.

[33] SudretB. Global sensitivity analysis using polynomial chaos expansions. Reliab Eng Syst Saf, 2008, 937964-979.

[34] TemmermanS, HorstmanEM, KraussKW, MullarneyJC, PelckmansI, SchoutensK. Marshes and mangroves as nature-based coastal storm buffers. Ann Rev Mar Sci, 2023, 15195-118.

[35] UmrohAdi W, SariSP. Detection of mangrove distribution in Pongok Island. Procedia Environ Sci, 2016, 33: 253-257.

[36] XuG, CaiCS. Numerical simulations of lateral restraining stiffness effect on bridge deck–wave interaction under solitary waves. Eng Struct, 2015, 101: 337-351.

[37] XuG, AsceAM, CaiCS, AsceF, HuP, DongZComponent level-based assessment of the solitary wave forces on a typical coastal bridge deck and the countermeasure of air venting holes., 2016.

[38] XuG, CaiCS, HanY. Investigating the characteristics of the solitary wave-induced forces on coastal twin bridge decks. J Perform Constr Facil, 2016, 30404015076.

[39] XuG, WuQ, JiangZ, MaN, XueS, YaoC, YangJ. Enhancing tsunami resilience for coastal bridge piers through seawall-integrated breakwaters: an experimental study. Ocean Eng, 2024, 310: 118744.

[40] YuanP, ZhuD, DongY. Spatial failure mechanism of coastal bridges under extreme waves using high-efficient pseudo-fluid-structure interaction solution scheme. Ocean Eng, 2021, 240: 109894.

[41] ZhangY, XuJ. Efficient reliability analysis with a CDA-based dimension-reduction model and polynomial chaos expansion. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng, 2021, 373: 113467.

[42] ZhangJ, WuG, LiangB, ShiL. Modeling wave attenuation through vegetation patches: the overlooked role of spatial heterogeneity. Phys Fluids, 2024, 367077102.

[43] ZhangY, DongY, FrangopolDM. An error-based stopping criterion for spherical decomposition-based adaptive Kriging model and rare event estimation. Reliab Eng Syst Saf, 2024, 241: 109610.

[44] ZhuD, DongY. Experimental and 3D numerical investigation of solitary wave forces on coastal bridges. Ocean Eng, 2020, 209: 107499.

[45] ZhuD, LiY, DongY, YuanP. Long-term loss assessment of coastal bridges from hurricanes incorporating overturning failure mode. Adv Bridge Eng, 2021, 211-15.

[46] ZhuD, YuanP, DongY. Probabilistic performance of coastal bridges under hurricane waves using experimental and 3D numerical investigations. Eng Struct, 2021, 242: 112493.

[47] ZhuD, DongY, LiuL. Multi-criteria robust optimization for bridge adaptation strategies targeting superstructure unseating under coastal natural hazards. Eng Struct, 2023, 292: 116533.

Funding

Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (15221521)

French National Research Agency (ANR)/Research Grants Council (RGC) Joint Research Scheme(A-PolyU502/23)

Environment and Conservation Fund(ECF 42/2022)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s)