SBU Leads Pioneering Research on Coastal Flooding and Foundation Scour

PhD students Ahmad Klait (UNH), Seyedalireza Mirghafouri (SBU), Sadegh Nouri (UD) with other REU students and Pedro Lomonaco (third from right), director of the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at OSU.

Ali Farhadzadeh, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineeringand the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences(SoMAS), is spearheading a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research project aimed at understanding how coastal flooding causes foundation damage to houses and infrastructure.

Farhadzadeh leads a team of collaborators that includes the University of Delaware and University of New Hampshire. Stony Brook doctoral student Seyedalireza Mirghafouri assists with the three-year project.

Ali Farhadzadeh and Seyedalireza Mirghafouri hanging the SBU flag in the lab as the first group from Stony Brook to conduct research at the NHERI facility.

Recently, the team conducted a large-scale laboratory study at the NSF's Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) wave flume facility at Oregon State University. Throughout June and July, they undertook rigorous testing to investigate the mechanisms behind the foundation scour that occurs as a result of wave-structure-soil interactions.

Foundation scour, the erosion of soil or sediment around a foundation caused by flowing water, waves, or currents, is one of the primary causes of structural damage and failure in coastal areas during extreme flooding events caused by tsunamis and windstorms.

The project focuses on utilizing advanced physical and numerical modeling to explore the interactions between extreme floodwaters, soil, and structures that lead to scouring and foundation failure. By enhancing the understanding of these processes, the research aims to develop computational models for coastal hazard mitigation. These tools are envisioned to aid civil and coastal engineers in designing safer structures in flood-prone areas.

Key objectives of the project include understanding scouring patterns around structures under various flood conditions, investigating foundation scouring in different soil types, and examining soil-foundation interactions under wave actions. Additionally, the research seeks to understand the rocking response of foundations in unsaturated soil and improve an open-source modeling framework for seabed stability and scour.

Ahmad Klait (right) and OSU lab personnel excavating the sand to embed the foundation.

"Foundation scour is a critical challenge in coastal communities during floods. Our project combines cutting-edge modeling techniques, including the use of the SBU and NHERI wave flume facilities to quantifying the potential scale effects, to understand the complex interactions between floodwaters, soil, and structures. We aim to improve coastal hazard mitigation and design safer foundations for flood-prone areas, fostering resilience and inclusivity in our approach to coastal engineering," said Farhadzadeh.

Ahmad Klait (UNH), Pedro Lomonaco (director of O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory), Ali Farhadzadeh (associate professor of Coastal Engineering, SBU), and Seyedalireza Mirghafouri (SBU).

Rigoberto Burgueño, chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, highlighted the significance of this research.

"This research is a prime example of the important work being done at SBU to be better prepared for the increased risks of flooding in our coastal regions due to changing climates," said Burgueño. "Gaining access to the wave flume via the shared-use NSF NHERI facilities is indicative of the importance of the research, and it provides SBU faculty and students with collaboration opportunities that enhance our mission of addressing infrastructure challenges through research and education."

The research by Farhadzadeh and his team will advance knowledge and assist in developing practical solutions for mitigating the impacts of coastal flooding and alleviating the hazards for coastal communities.

- Beth Squire

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