Mitigation measures for beach erosion and rip current

Abstract

Korea has achieved both economical and socio-cultural developments in recent years, and in the midst of these changes, the issue of beach erosion has been recognized as one of the most important and controversial coastal problems in the country. Hence coastal protection is required which they have to be designed, constructed and maintained efficiently (Pilarczyk and Zeidler, 1996). This case study on beach erosion was conducted at Haeundae Beach in Busan, located in the south coast of Korea. Haeundae Beach is regarded as the most popular and beautiful urban beach in Korea. One of the main purposes of this study is to take comprehensive countermeasures to mitigate the beach erosion problem at Haeundae Beach. The historical investigations, field observations, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations were conducted to understand the problems and to obtain solutions for countermeasures. The laboratory experiments of 3D hydraulic model tests qualitatively reproduced erosion patterns and rip currents that were shown in numerical simulations. The results of laboratory experiments showed improvements in the countermeasure plan using both beach nourishment and submerged breakwaters from erosion. © Coastal Education & Research Foundation 2013.