Year

2024

Season

Spring

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Computing, Engineering & Construction

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

Department

Engineering

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. School of Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Raphael Crowley

Second Advisor

Dr. William Dally

Third Advisor

Dr. Kelly Smith

College Dean

William Klostermeyer

Abstract

Pervious Oyster Shell Habitats (POSH) are novel living shoreline components that were recently developed and deployed along several shorelines in northeast Florida. POSH units are designed to provide a breakwater using only recycled eastern oyster shell and Portland cement. However, the hydrodynamic performance of these unique structures had never been tested, so it was unclear how they affected wave energy. During this study, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to compare wave attenuation from POSH units to wave attenuation from geometrically similar and commercially available Reef BallsTM (specifically, the OysterBreak series of units). Experiments included a range of water depths, structure configurations, and wave types intended to emulate conditions where POSH units have already been deployed. Results suggest that like a Reef BallTM, POSH unit performance is a function of relative freeboard and unit crest width, and that under certain conditions, both structures may significantly attenuate wave energy. In addition, data suggest that POSH units may attenuate more wave energy than similarly sized Reef BallsTM when both structures are subjected to the same or similar wave conditions.

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