Ship Wave–Induced Hydraulic Loading on Estuarine Groins: A Conceptual Numerical Study

Abstract

River training structures, such as groynes or spur-dikes, are subject to intensifying ship-induced loads, owing to increasing ship dimensions and traffic density on waterways. In particular, the long-period primary wave system differs from other loading components, such as short-period wind waves, owing to the long wave length. To date, this loading scenario is not reflected within the empirical based design approaches for groynes. In this study, numerical approaches based on shallow water theory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are employed for deriving groyne design parameters, particularly by assuming stationary load conditions. Firstly, the numerical tools REEF3D::CFD and REEF3D::SFLOW are validated for the specific parameter range of ship-induced groyne overtopping based on an experimental data set. Secondly, numerical simulations at the prototype scale are connected with empirical equations for armor layer design. Comparing the results with field data from groyne prototypes indicates that the combined approach yields plausible required armor layer dimensions. Further, the examination of geometric variations of groynes confirms that a reduction in groyne slope can reduce the required armor layer dimensions by approximately 10%.