Research Project

This study aims to formulate the stability of the UH-Pod as an armor layer for breakwaters through an experimental approach conducted in a laboratory setting. The UH-Pod is an innovative precast concrete block, composed of two interlocked H-shaped units representing the abbreviation of Hasanuddin or Universitas Hasanuddin, combined into a single integrated structure. The design features eight protruding legs that enable interlocking mechanisms between units, which are expected to enhance the stability of breakwater structures in dissipating wave energy.

The research methodology includes the fabrication of a scaled physical model of the UH-Pod, followed by wave resistance testing using a flume wave tank. The key parameters to be observed include block displacement, interlocking efficiency between units, and wave energy dissipation performance. Furthermore, this study aims to determine the stability coefficient (KD) of the UH-Pod, which will be applied in the Hudson formula to calculate the required block weight for effective wave energy reduction.

This research is expected to make a significant contribution to the field of coastal engineering, particularly in the design of more stable and durable coastal protection structures. The findings are also anticipated to serve as a valuable reference for the planning and development of breakwaters in Indonesia’s coastal areas, which are vulnerable to wave-induced erosion and abrasion.

This research aims to develop a breakwater model using a gabion arrangement made from polyethylene sheets formed into square-shaped units with perforations of specific dimensions. These gabions are filled with medium-sized stones that are larger than the polyethylene openings, allowing for structural stability. Accordingly, this study is titled:
“Stability of Pyramid Gabion as Armor Layer Breakwater in Three-Dimensional Modeling.”

The polyethylene sheets used in this research are commonly referred to as HDPE gabions, made from biaxial PP geogrid material, which is resistant to weathering, seawater, freshwater, chemicals, and corrosion. From a technical standpoint, HDPE gabions are suitable for marine environments and have the potential to be applied in other coastal infrastructure, such as bridges and coastal roads.

Coastal structures like breakwaters serve as an effective solution to mitigate coastal erosion and help restore shoreline positions, making them a vital component in sustainable coastal engineering.

The study was conducted to assess the potential of a breakwater-based Overtopping Wave Energy Converter (OWEC) if implemented at Makassar New Port. Existing breakwater data, hydro-oceanographic data from the study area, and other relevant datasets were collected and analyzed. The analysis revealed that the average daily wave height for each month over a one-year period at the study site ranged from 0.20 to 1.10 meters. Furthermore, the average daily overtopping discharge per unit width on the OWEC breakwater structure at Makassar New Port was found to range between 0.84 and 3.58 m³/s. These values indicate that the resulting discharge is relatively low, suggesting that the wave energy potential at this location is not significant. Therefore, the site may be less suitable for further development of breakwater-based OWEC wave energy utilization.

Kapota Beach is a beach located on Kapota Island, Southeast Sulawesi, which has experienced shoreline changes. The purpose of this research is to analyze the distribution of waves, the direction of sediment transport, and changes in the coastline due to waves that occur. The analysis used was wind speed, wind direction, Fetch analysis, wave forecasting, wave propagation, breaking wave analysis, and sediment transport analysis. The results showed that the height and depth of breaking waves and the angle of incidence of waves from the northwest and north caused changes in the coastline. Sediment transport tends to the southeast or parallel to the coast. Based on the review of satellite imagery in 2012-2022, also shows shoreline changes, namely erosion ranging from 0.1 m to 13.73 m and accretion ranging from 0.18 m to 12.89 m, with the average shoreline change experiencing erosion.

he Hybrid System of Fluidization-sediment flushing is a dredging technique that combines the functions of fluidization and suction in the same fluidization pipe using a perforation pipe. The purpose of this study was to address an easier dredging method using fluidization pipes. 2-dimensional (2D) experimental physical modeling research and multiple linear regression analysis were used to process the test result. The results found that for optimal sediment flushing after the sediment layer was agitated by fluidization, the influence parameter was analyzed must follow the limitations of the experimental result, such as the hole diameter (Df) is not more than 5 mm (Df < 5 mm), the hole distance (ɑ) is less than 5 cm (ɑ/db < 5 cm), the pump head (HP) is small, and the fluidization pipe depth/sediment thickness (db) can be larger. The research findings are presented in the correlation equation which indicates the relationship of dimensionless parameters was Vs/Vw = 1/Df ((ɑ/db), (HP/db), (t.(g×0.5)/(db^0.5)), (v/(g.db(S – 1)^0.5)) which can be applied to 3-dimensional experiments and field experiments. One of the advantages of the hybrid system of fluidization-flushing sediment is its ease of use and lack of impact on the aquatic environment as a dredging technique.

Currently, the attractiveness of coastal areas has led to continuous population growth in these regions, resulting in the emergence of new settlements, public facilities, port infrastructure, and the development of tourism. More than 40% of the world\'s population lives in coastal areas, and over 570 low-lying coastal cities are projected to face a sea-level rise of at least 0.5 meters by 2050. Public facilities and residential areas are increasingly at risk of being damaged or lost due to extreme wave activity, making them vulnerable to natural disasters, particularly geological hazards such as earthquakes accompanied by tsunamis. The continuous development of coastal regions increases the vulnerability of certain communities and their supporting infrastructure to tsunami damage, potentially causing significant land destruction and loss of life. Indonesia ranks second globally as the country most frequently affected by tsunamis, due to its geographic location at the convergence of three major tectonic plates—the Eurasian Plate, the Indo-Australian Plate, and the Pacific Plate—resulting in high seismic activity with the potential to generate earthquakes as the primary hazard and tsunamis as a secondary effect. Although tsunamis have occurred less frequently over the past decade, they remain highly unpredictable, sudden, unusual, and are among the deadliest threats to coastal populations. While tsunamis cannot be prevented, their impacts can be significantly reduced through effective tsunami mitigation measures, as demonstrated by several countries that have successfully survived such disasters. This is the rationale behind conducting a tsunami disaster mitigation study focused on structural countermeasures—such as coastal protection and coastal forest development—as strategic efforts to build resilient and disaster-prepared coastal communities in the near future.

This study aims (1) to analyze and obtain the relationship of the effect of wave deformation on overtopping run-up and discharge over OWEC-breakwater caused by the interaction of hydraulic parameters, structural / geometric parameters and reflective parameters; (2) to obtain OWEC-breakwater slope shape which can produce maximum overlapping run-up and discharge values; (3) to obtain run-up and overtopping discharge formulations through engineered parameters in an effort to increase run-up and overtopping discharge at OWEC-breakwater.

The research method used was an experimental study by conducting physical model simulations on two-dimensional wave channels in the laboratory. OWEC-breakwater was a modified breakwater model by completing the reservoir at its peak for rotating turbines. Model innovations were made with double slopes, where variations were made at the bottom slope angle or bulb-slopes, which were 75°, 90°, and 105°. The height of the sub-slope relative to the depth of the water (s / d) is varied with the values up to s / d = 0.882 and s / d = 0.789 to see the effect on the height of wave run-up and overtopping.

The results show that the maximum wave run-up and overtopping were obtained at values up to 1, or that the water level is the same as the sub-slope peak elevation. Maximum wave run-up and overtopping are also obtained in models with upright sub-slope or 90° models. At the end of this research, an empirical formula for wave run-up and overtopping were developed from the two maximum conditions.

Present coastal protection models are working to protect coastal by destroying the waves, although the wave has great potential to be utilized as wave energy catcher. The aims of the study are to analyze the effect of wave parameters and model parameters on the value of the waves that can be captured into reservoir through overtopping mechanism; obtain the parameters influencing the overtopping discharge in dimensionless correlation, and obtain a range of power magnitude from which coastal protection model as a wave energy catcher can be achieved. Testing is done by varying the wave parameters and the model parameters. It is to look and analyse the effect of both parameters to overtopping discharge that can be captured. The parameters obtained from the dimensions analysis examined that the parameters of the study are the effect of wave height (Hi), wave steepness (Hi/gT²), relative freeboard height (Rc/Hi), and relative model slope ((Hi/gT²) ^0.5/tan θ) and the influence of all parameters (Rc/Hi.Hi/gT²)^0.5/tan ). Results of overtopping discharge study are then used in the calculation of the model power. The results of the study indicated that, the higher the wave, the more increases of overtopping discharge. The greater steepness of the wave, the more decrease of overtopping discharge. The greater yhe height value of relative freeboard, the more decrease of overtopping discharge. The greater the value of relative model slppe, the more decrease of overtopping discharge. The greater the value of all influence parameters, the more decrease of overtopping discharge. The larger the discharge product, the stronger power will be obtained. The value of power efficiency obtained in this model is 55.4%.