Numerical Comparison of Solitary Wave Interactions with Concave, Convex, and Sloped Seawalls: Hydrodynamics, Loads, and Turbulence

Abstract Seawalls are critical for coastal protection, yet a comprehensive understanding of how their geometry affects hydrodynamic loads, performance, and local turbulence remains incomplete, with a notable gap in systematic comparisons of concave, convex, and sloped profiles linking run-up, loads, and turbulent structures. This study addresses this by using a validated RANS model with k - ε RNG turbulence and VOF method to analyze highly nonlinear solitary waves interacting with these geometries. Results show that seawall curvature (for R = 0.5 m) is a potential critical design parameter: concave profiles increase reflection and toe vortices, amplifying loads and scour potential; convex ones reduce forces and turbulence; sloped ones dissipate energy but increase overtopping. This integrated analysis of pressure, forces, and TKE provides insights for balancing stability, efficiency, and scour mitigation in coastal designs.