A structure constructed near to the coastal line is called coastal structure. The harbours, revetments are the coastal structures that were built for different purposes.
The structures constructed to prevent these human-made structures from harmful sea erosion and other sea activities are called coastal protection structures.
Why do we need coastal protection structures?
The primary purpose of the coastal protection structure is to protect the coastline from the sea waves and other natural sea disasters. The coastal protection structure reduces erosion & helps to increase land access to the sea.
The 4 Main types of coastal erosion are
Hydraulic Action – erosion caused by the sheer force of waves.
Abrasion – erosion caused by the pebbles presented in seawater when struck at speed with the coastline.
Attrition – erosion caused by the rocks carried by seawater.
Solution – erosion caused when rocks are dissolved by seawater.
The fact is that we can not stop these seashore erosions, but we can control them. General buildings, such as residential or commercial, should not be constructed within the coastal line.
Natural Causes of Coastal Erosion
Moving of glaciers will erode the natural shoreline.
The high velocity of sea waves erodes the seashore bed.
Natural disasters like cyclones, storms profoundly impact coastal erosion.
The high-velocity water is running, which comes from the river, damages the shore heavily.
Due to some construction works near the coastal line influence the erosion of seashore.
How can we protect our coastlines?
The coastlines can be protected by using natural or artificial structures. The natural coastal protectors are mangrove, dune, seagrass & coral reefs.
Those natural protectors control the height of tides & reduce the erosion of shorelines. It increases the land height to the sea level.
Many researchers are trying to save the mangrove and other sea-related plants, which helps very much to protect our coastlines. Moreover, the sea-related plants are implanting in the seashore to restrict the erosion of the coast.
The artificial coastal protection structures are called hard structures. Economically the artificial coastal protection structures are very high, but anyhow the natural coast protection resources are not possible in all locations.
Types of Coastal Protection Structures (Artificial)
Seawalls
Bulkheads
Groins
Jetty
Breakwater
Seawalls
The seawalls are also called revetment. The seawall is constructed parallel to the shoreline and is built by rubble mound, granite masonry, and reinforced concrete.
The seawall function is to reduce the destructive sea wave velocity and prevent the erosion of the seashore.
The types of seawalls are mentioned below.
Curved face seawall
Stepped face seawall
Rubble Mound Seawall
The different types of seawall used based on the force of the sea waves.
1. Curved face seawall
The pile foundation method is used to construct the curved face seawall. The curved portion reduces the force of the sea waves and avoids dune erosion from the shore.
The curved face seawall is preferable, where the high force sea waves occur.
The sheet piles are erected in front of the foundation to avoid the foundation collapsing by the scouring waves.
2. Stepped face seawall
The stepped face seawall is suitable to prevent the sealines from medium force tides. It is constructed by a special concrete structure, which reduces the height of waves and restricts the erosion of sea sand.
The gap between the sheet piles is placed by the geotextile membrane to stop the seawater seepage.
3. Rubble Mound Seawall
The rubble mound seawall construction is economically excellent & easy to construct. Large riprap stones are placed in front of the beach to avoid sand erosion. It can sustain & restrict even the high force of sea waves.
Bulkheads
Gravity structure and anchored sheet pile walls are the two types of bulkheads used in construction to protect the coastlines. The concrete, steel, or timber used to construct the bulkheads.
The main purpose of the bulkheads is to retain the earth’s bed from scouring, and it is not much sustainable against high force tides.
Bulkheads are provided to save the upland soil sliding towards the seashore.
Groins
The groins are constructed vertically and perpendicular to the seashore by concrete, steel, and rubble stone. Its length, height & permeability categorize the groins.
The primary construction purpose of groins is changing the pattern of sea waves which come near to the shore.
Based on the type of construction, it is classified as permeable and impermeable groins.
Jetty
The construction cost of the jetty is high, and it is constructed by concrete, steel, or wood. Jetties are built near to the harbour or river estuary to avoid the formation of sandbars and control the flow of water.
The projection of jetty is perpendicular to the seashore and built to an extent far from the shore.
Breakwaters
The breakwaters are constructed parallel to the seashore. The primary function of the breakwater is to reduce the force of the sea waves before it reaches the shore.
The types of breakwaters are mentioned below.
Offshore breakwaters
Shore-connected breakwaters
Rubble mound breakwaters
The breakwaters are constructed by concrete blocks, rouble mound & solid concrete foundation at shallow depth.
We have to spend much more money on artificial coastal protection structures. Particular types of cement & construction methodology have to be used to construct artificial structures.
Whatever we do we can only reduce the effects of erosion and are not entirely stoppable. The natural coastal protections should be appreciated and saved from the harmful activity.
