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INSTRUCTORS:
Wen-Huai Tsao, Ph.D., PE
Denis Istrati
Lucas Baumgartner
Amir Mostaghiman, M.Sc.
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2026.
Coupled Wind-Wave Effects on the Dynamics of Coastal Floating Photovoltaics (FPV) (17 minutes)
This presentation explores advanced fluid-structure interaction modeling used to evaluate how coupled wind and wave conditions affect FPV motions, mooring tensions, and structural responses. Participants will learn how computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multi-body dynamics tools can be integrated to simulate realistic environmental loading scenarios. The presentation will discuss the influence of wind-induced forces on mooring integrity and floating platform stability. Special attention will be given to dynamic responses such as sway, heave, and roll motions, and their impact on long-term system reliability. The session also highlights future developments involving digital twins and real-time monitoring for floating renewable energy systems. Participants will gain insight into engineering challenges associated with deploying FPV systems in coastal environments.
Coupled Wave Modelling for Extreme Loads on Heritage Coastal Cliffs (17 minutes)
This presentation introduces a multi-scale modeling framework that combines regional wave climate analysis, nearshore hydrodynamic modeling, CFD simulations, and geological assessments. Participants will learn how engineers quantify wave loads and identify vulnerable cliff sections susceptible to erosion and structural failure. The session demonstrates how advanced numerical tools are used to bridge scales ranging from regional ocean processes to centimeter-scale cliff impacts. Case studies from heritage sites in the Mediterranean region will illustrate practical applications of these methods. The presentation will also discuss how monitoring systems and artificial intelligence may support future early-warning systems for cliff instability. Attendees will gain valuable understanding of risk assessment approaches for protecting heritage infrastructure in challenging coastal settings.
Mooring Effects on Floating Breakwater Dynamics Under Breaking Waves (15 minutes)
This presentation investigates how different mooring configurations influence the interaction between floating breakwaters and both breaking and non-breaking waves. Participants will explore applications of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for simulating highly nonlinear breaking wave processes that are difficult to capture using traditional numerical methods. The session discusses how mooring stiffness affects wave breaking location, breakwater motion, and hydrodynamic forces. Attendees will learn why breaking waves cannot be treated independently from floating structures and how these interactions influence design decisions. Experimental and numerical validation methods will also be presented. The talk provides practical insights into enhancing breakwater performance and resilience under severe coastal conditions.
Advancing Hybrid Coastal Structures: An Experimental Investigation into Hydraulic Performance and Morphodynamic Response (15 minutes)
This presentation examines laboratory experiments investigating how different packing densities of embedded structural components affect erosion, scour, and dune stability. Participants will learn about the hydraulic performance of hybrid defenses subjected to progressive wave loading. The session will demonstrate how porous structural cores modify failure mechanisms and delay dune breaching compared to traditional sand dunes. Attendees will explore morphodynamic measurements, turbulent kinetic energy observations, and erosion analyses used to evaluate performance. The presentation will discuss both the benefits and limitations of various hybrid configurations. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how engineering-with-nature approaches can improve long-term coastal protection.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how coupled wind and wave loading influences the dynamic response and mooring performance of floating photovoltaic systems.
- Discuss how multi-scale wave modeling can be used to assess erosion risks and structural vulnerabilities of heritage coastal cliffs.
- Explain the influence of mooring configuration on floating breakwater behavior under breaking wave conditions.
- Describe how packing density influences the hydraulic performance and erosion resistance of hybrid coastal structures.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-test assessment (true-false, multiple choice, and/or fill in the blank questions).
Who Should Attend?
- Coastal Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Coastal Scientist
- Coastal Resilience Program Manager
- Government Coastal Zone Manager
- University Student or Researcher
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 365 days of the course purchase.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]