Comparison of Damage Mechanisms to Oceanfront Structures Protected by a Beach and Dune System with vs. without a Rock Seawall during Hurricane Sandy

K. R. Walling, T. O. Herrington, J. K. Miller

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper investigates the damage caused by three different mechanisms-wave impact, scour/high velocity flow (HVF), and debris impact-to the oceanfront structures of two New Jersey coastal communities during Hurricane Sandy. The two neighboring communities, Bay Head and Mantoloking had similar dune sizes and beach profiles before the storm, with one major difference: Buried within the dune line along most of the length of Bay Head, was a relic rock seawall. The research compares the effects of the two different shoreline protection systems employed by each town, and finds that: (1) areas with the rock seawall experienced less erosion behind it but more erosion seaward of it, when compared to sections of shoreline without the rock seawall; (2) for structures with the rock seawall protection, wave impact and scour/HVF predominantly resulted in minor damage, whereas for structures without the rock seawall protection, wave impact and scour/HVF predominantly resulted in severe damage; and (3) the variation in distance to the 0 ft NAVD88 contour caused greater variance in damage levels of wave impact and scour/HVF than the variance in beach protection type.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCoastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2015
Subtitle of host publicationResilient Coastal Communities - Proceedings of the Coastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters Joint Conference 2015
EditorsLouise Wallendorf, Daniel T. Cox
Pages80-87
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9780784480304
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventCoastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters Joint Conference 2015 - Boston, United States
Duration: 9 Sep 201511 Sep 2015

Publication series

NameCoastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2015: Resilient Coastal Communities - Proceedings of the Coastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters Joint Conference 2015

Conference

ConferenceCoastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters Joint Conference 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period9/09/1511/09/15

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