Wave Tank Testing
To quantify the hydrodynamic performance of our Living Seawalls™, Kind Designs partnered with the University of Miami’s SUSTAIN Laboratory—one of the world’s most advanced facilities for simulating wind, waves, and storm surge—and Coastal Dynamics International. The study evaluates how our biomimetic “Mangrove Root” seawall design dissipates wave energy compared to a conventional vertical seawall, known to reflect nearly 100% of oncoming waves.
Results demonstrate that Living Seawalls™ substantially reduce wave reflection and near-bed turbulence—key drivers of coastal erosion, toe scour, and structural fatigue. These findings validate that surface geometry inspired by mangrove roots can both dissipate destructive wave energy and enhance ecosystem function.
The resulting dataset will be used to calibrate a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model developed by Arup, enabling predictive design and region-specific adaptation of Living Seawalls™ across diverse coastal environments.
Research Objectives
Measuring Wave Reflection and Energy Dissipation
The primary objective was to quantify wave reflection and dissipation by Kind Designs’ Mangrove Root Living Seawall™ under a range of controlled conditions, including variations in:
- Water levels
- Wave amplitudes
- Wave frequencies
As a baseline, a smooth vertical wall—known to reflect nearly 100% of incident wave energy—was tested under identical conditions.
The comparisons was used to reveal whether Living Seawalls™ reduce reflected energy, mitigating impacts such as:
- Toe scour and foundation erosion
- Overtopping during storm events
- Damage to moored vessels
- Wave interference that can amplify local flooding
Reducing these effects strengthens both the protected property and neighboring shorelines.
Methodology
Laboratory Evaluation at the University of Miami’s SUSTAIN Facility
Testing was led by Dr. Brian Haus, Director of the SUSTAIN Laboratory and Chair of the Department of Ocean Sciences at the University of Miami.
Experimental Setup
- Scale Model: A 1:2 scale of 3D-printed Living Seawall™ section was installed across the full width of the wave tank to replicate field-scale performance.
- Surface Geometry: The tested Living Seawall™ featured 4-inch mangrove root protrusions—the smallest root design in our series. Results therefore represent a conservative, baseline estimate of hydrodynamic performance, with larger or more complex geometries expected to further enhance wave dissipation.
- Baseline Control: Smooth flat panels were then installed over the same frame to simulate a conventional seawall for direct comparison.
- Instrumentation:
- Eight high-precision capacitance wave probes measured incident and reflected wave heights.
- A Nortek Aquadopp acoustic Doppler profiler recorded flow velocity and turbulence at the seawall base.
- Conditions: 121 runs simulated a range of wave heights, frequencies (boat wakes and wind waves), and water depths typical of Biscayne Bay conditions.
Analysis of near-bed flow patterns revealed how the seawall’s surface geometry influences hydrodynamics along the wall face.
Key Findings
Living Seawalls™ Reduce Wave Reflection and Subsurface Velocities
Wave Reflection
- 65% of tests showed lower wave reflection with the Kind Designs 4”, Mangrove Root Living Seawall™ compared to the flat wall
- On average, wave reflection was reduced by 45%.
These findings confirm that Living Seawalls™ significantly reduce the destructive energy that contributes to erosion, structural fatigue, and damage to adjacent infrastructure.
Current and Turbulence Reduction
- Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE): Decreased by ~50% in 62.5% of cases.
- Near-Bed Velocities: Reduced in 50% of cases.
- Vertical Surface Velocities: Reduced in 75% of cases.
Subsurface velocity data further demonstrates how the seawall’s geometry controls sediment transport. The reduced near-bed velocities and turbulence helps minimize sediment mobilization—this reduces scour at the base of the seawall and can help extend the lifetime of the seawall by delaying onset of wall slumping and failure due to toe scour.
The disruption of the upward vertical velocity near the water surface will also reduce the potential for overtopping and thereby extend the seawall lifetime.
Practical Applications
Real-World Benefits for Coastal Resilience
By reducing reflected wave energy, Living Seawalls™:
- Limit overtopping and toe scour, preserving wall stability
- Protect moored vessels from wave impact
- Reduce interference between incident and reflected waves
- Extend the service life of coastal defenses
Ongoing Research
CFD Modeling and Design Optimization
The wave tank results from the University of Miami and Coastal Dynamics International mark just the beginning of our research. Using these findings, Kind Designs is refining our Mangrove Root Living Seawall™ geometry to further enhance wave dissipation and structural performance.
Next, this data will inform a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model being developed by Arup, a global leader in coastal engineering. The model will allow us to simulate how different surface geometries perform under a wide range of environmental conditions—enabling predictive design and regional adaptation of Living Seawalls™ for coastlines across the United States.
Our ultimate goal: to make Living Seawalls™ the new global standard.