Experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of different types of vegetation under regular waves

Yan Kai; Shen Zhangyi; Chen Hongzhou; Shen Liangduo; Wang Xiangyu; Bian Hongwei

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Yan Kai，Shen Zhangyi，Chen Hongzhou, et al. Experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of different types of vegetation under regular waves[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2026, 48(x)：1–12

Citation:

Yan Kai，Shen Zhangyi，Chen Hongzhou, et al. Experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of different types of vegetation under regular waves[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2026, 48(x)：1–12

Citation:

Yan Kai，Shen Zhangyi，Chen Hongzhou, et al. Experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of different types of vegetation under regular waves[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2026, 48(x)：1–12

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Experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of different types of vegetation under regular waves

1.
School of Marine Engineering Equipment of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
2.
The Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536009, China

Received Date: 2025-11-11
Rev Recd Date: 2026-01-17

Available Online: 2026-01-24

Abstract

Abstract

To investigate the differences in wave attenuation characteristics among rigid, flexible, and rigid-flexible composite vegetation under regular waves, a series of physical model tests were conducted in a laboratory flume. The wave attenuation effects of these three vegetation types were quantitatively analyzed, and the relationships between the drag coefficient (C_D) and Reynolds number (Re), Keulegan–Carpenter number (KC), and Ursell number (Ur)—were determined. Results show that all three configurations induce a progressive along-flume reduction in wave height. Increasing incident wave period or vegetation submergence ratio consistently weakens wave dissipation for all vegetation types. The response to wave height differs by configuration: dissipation by rigid vegetation increases markedly and continuously with wave height, whereas flexible vegetation exhibits a nonlinear behavior, strengthening at first and then weakening as wave height further increases. The rigid–flexible combined configuration integrates these advantages and also shows enhanced dissipation with increasing wave height. Moreover, C_D for the three vegetation types can be represented using a unified theoretical expression; the primary distinction among configurations is the value of the influence factor γ, which accounts for the effect of vegetation swaying on wave-height attenuation. Statistically significant dependencies of C_D on Re, KC, and Ur are observed and can be parameterized by a unified empirical formulation. These results provide a theoretical basis and design reference for optimizing vegetation configurations in coastal ecological protection and restoration engineering.
- vegetation wave dissipation,
- rigid vegetation,
- flexible vegetation,
- submergence degree,
- regular waves

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References(32)

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