Sea WallsCoastal Protection

Eugene Ng (21)

Jerald Tan (26)

Lin Zenghui (18)

Caleb Goh (1)

Jason Ng (9)

Sea WallsSea Walls

Sea walls are shore parallel structures at the Sea walls are shore parallel structures at the transition between the low-lying (sandy) transition between the low-lying (sandy) beach and the (higher) mainland or dune. beach and the (higher) mainland or dune.

The height of a seawall fills often the total The height of a seawall fills often the total height difference between beach and surface height difference between beach and surface level of the mainland. level of the mainland.

Positive AspectsPositive Aspects

Infrastructure and buildings situated close to Infrastructure and buildings situated close to the edge of mainland or dunes has a chance to the edge of mainland or dunes has a chance to be destroyed during storm surgesbe destroyed during storm surgesWith a seawall which is able to withstand With a seawall which is able to withstand these conditions the erosion of the mainland these conditions the erosion of the mainland would be almost zero or negligible would be almost zero or negligible

Negative AspectsNegative Aspects√ There is no 100 % foolproof solution for structural There is no 100 % foolproof solution for structural

erosion problems. erosion problems. √ Under design conditions a break-through is Under design conditions a break-through is

expected; the low-lying hinterland behind the expected; the low-lying hinterland behind the slender row of dunes will be flooded slender row of dunes will be flooded

√ Iniitially, right after the construction of the seawall, a Iniitially, right after the construction of the seawall, a normal beach was present. The beach did 'protect' normal beach was present. The beach did 'protect' the seawall to some extent; only moderate storms the seawall to some extent; only moderate storms could reach the seawall.could reach the seawall.

√ When the beach disappears, much more frequent When the beach disappears, much more frequent wave attacks directly to the seawall will occur. wave attacks directly to the seawall will occur.

√ Damage occurs; reinforcements have to take place. Damage occurs; reinforcements have to take place.

InterestingInteresting Points Points

A seawall must withstand some of the most brutal A seawall must withstand some of the most brutal conditions of any structure built today. From heavy conditions of any structure built today. From heavy loads and extremely corrosive salt water, to the loads and extremely corrosive salt water, to the attack by marine borers, conventional materials attack by marine borers, conventional materials don’t get the job done. Today’s seawalls require don’t get the job done. Today’s seawalls require advanced materials capable of performing over the advanced materials capable of performing over the long haul in this brutal environment. Vinyl, long haul in this brutal environment. Vinyl, aluminum, and ultracompsite (fiberglass.) are just aluminum, and ultracompsite (fiberglass.) are just some of the materials used to create these massively some of the materials used to create these massively impressive structures.impressive structures.

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