Entity Model Test and Analysis of Local Scour of Three Different Structures of Artificial Reefs

In this study, we aim to optimize the design of artificial reefs and improve their applicability and durability in the marine environment. Three types of reefs were selected to be placed in Indonesian waters as the target, and we analyzed the local scour characteristics and the influence of structural parameters of the artificial reefs at four different flow velocities through flume model tests and numerical simulations. The results showed that the local scour was insignificant when the flow velocity was less than 0.8 m/s and became severe when it reached 0.8 m/s. The structure of the reefs affects the degree of scouring, and a multi-column support structure will form a complex flow field, which can be optimized by combining with the design of sand content; the high and low values of the flow field, the bed shear, and the vortex field in the numerical simulation correspond to the areas of the local scour in the test. In conclusion, this study provides an essential basis for the design, deployment, and later management and maintenance of artificial reefs, which can help to improve their stability, better fulfill their ecological function, and promote the sustainable development of marine fisheries.