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Abstract

Shorelines are subjected to severe erosion because of the action of perennial waves. Although traditional rigid structures have historically been constructed as coastline protection devices, they do not always work effectively, and certain coastal areas such as Shuang-Chun beach in Tainan, Taiwan, continue to experience serious erosion due to damaged and ineffective structures. The necessity of shore protection has been recognized in recent years, and alternative solutions are being sought. In this paper, we present a high-strength-net device that acts as a flexible breakwater to reduce wave energy, induce sediment deposition, and offer a more economic and innovative method for coastline protection. The device is composed of concrete posts, high-strength nets, and triangular gabions filled with stones and covered with recycled vehicle tires. Three high-strength-net breakwaters have been installed at Shuang-Chun beach since 2009 as an experimental field study to investigate both the effect of sediment deposition and the stability of the proposed breakwaters. Results show that these devices have the strength and stability to withstand the impact of severe wave action, and that they act effectively as sediment retainers, thereby preventing coastal erosion.

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