Coastal defence: testing beach nourishment approaches
Mixed sand and shingle beaches offer coastal protection. This project tests renourishment methods to protect beaches from erosion.
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Details
Mixed sand and shingle beaches are a common component of coastal defences in the UK. These beaches provide coastal protection by helping to dissipate wave energy and prevent flooding. However, most of these beaches are prone to erosion. Renourishment activities are required to maintain an adequate level of sea defence.
Sea level rises and an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms are predicted in the coming years. Therefore, the level of renourishment will need to increase. For this reason, it’s important to find cost-effective renourishment methods.
Project details
This project investigates various methods for improving the cost-effectiveness of beach nourishment and beach management schemes.
Experiments were conducted at two sites in Kent trialling different types of recharge materials and various ways for placing materials.
Key findings
The researchers reached a number of conclusions:
- the extra cost of coarse recharge material proved worthwhile because it reduced erosion rates
- it was not worth using machinery to mould the recharge material to a defined gradient - placing it in one location or spreading it over a defined area saved time and money
- beaches should be renourished twice per year
This project ran from 2004 to 2008.