Wind-driven wave overtopping on permeable revetments: spatial distribution and wave-induced load characteristics

A coupled wind–wave–structure numerical model is developed to investigate wind-driven overtopping of sloped seawalls armored with dolos blocks. The model integrates Volume of Fluid (VOF) method for air–water interactions with a Darcy-Forchheimer porous-media representation of the armor layer, and employs the waves2Foam toolbox to reproduce typhoon-like conditions. A systematic parametric study is conducted to quantify the spatial distribution of overtopping volume and dynamic wave-induced loads on the hinterland. The results indicate that overtopping water and wave-induced load approximately follow a Gaussian-type spatial distribution behind the seawall within the present study conditions. Increasing onshore wind speed and water depth shifts the centroid of overtopping volume landward and significantly enlarges the high-risk impact zone. Increasing armor-layer thickness reduces the peak wave-induced load but extends its footprint landward. Random block placement enhances energy dissipation and effectively suppresses overtopping for thinner layers, whereas regular placement promotes farther-reaching impacts. These results provide quantitative guidance for the hydraulic design and safety zoning of permeable coastal revetments subjected to strong winds and extreme wave conditions. • A numerical model is developed to simulate wave-induced loads on permeable revetments. • Wind shifts overtopping water landward and expands the spatial extent of wave-induced-loads. • Regular block placement leads to wider wave-induced load distribution than random placement.