Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics

Challenges and Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Nature-Based Coastal Protection

As coastal regions confront increasingly severe threats from sea-level rise and extreme weather events, coastal engineering is evolving toward more integrated approaches that combine Nature-based Solutions (NbS) with conventional structures. Ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and oyster reefs provide sustainable alternatives for shoreline protection by attenuating wave energy and stabilizing sediments. Meanwhile, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has unlocked unprecedented potential for elucidating the mechanisms of complex flow–vegetation interactions, enabling more accurate representation of the physics supporting the optimized design of hybrid coastal defense systems.

Despite substantial progress, substantial efforts are still required to fully bridge the gap between idealized numerical models and the biological reality of coastal zones. Persistent challenges remain, particularly with respect to the geometric complexity of the system, the bi-directional interactions between hydrodynamic forcing and the biomechanical dynamics of living vegetation, and the inherent multi-scale nature of the modelling.

This Article Collection aims to gather cutting-edge research focusing on CFD applications in analyzing the hydrodynamics of nature-based coastal defense systems. We invite researchers to submit original research articles and comprehensive reviews that utilize advanced CFD methods to elucidate the fluid-structure interactions within coastal ecosystems. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Hydrodynamics
• Two-way coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
• Turbulence modeling
• Wave-Current-Vegetation Interaction
• Bio-physical feedback mechanisms
• Sediment transport
• Multi-scale simulation of coastal ecosystems

Keywords: Bio-physical feedback, Wave-Current-Vegetation Interaction, Turbulence, Coastal Protection, Nature-based Solutions

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 26 October 2026.

Please contact Hang Ke at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Peng Yao is an associate professor at Hohai University. His main research areas include coastal sediment transport mechanisms and modelling technology, coastal protection and resilience enhancement, etc. He investigates erosion and suspension mechanisms of mixed sediment with/without vegetations using laboratory experiment and multi-scale numerical models.

Marcel Stive has plus 40 years’ experience in research and consultancy projects in the fields of hydraulic engineering, coastal morphodynamics, coastal bio-geomorphology and coastal and estuarine management. His record involves coasts, estuaries, harbours and offshore projects in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, using fieldwork, experimental physical and mathematical physical models.

Zhan Hu is a professor at Sun Yat-sen University. His research interests are the bio-physical interactions in coastal ecosystems, and their implications for coastal management. He investigates wave dissipation by vegetation, marsh/mangrove lateral dynamics and morphological equilibrium in the intertidal environment.

Tomohiro Suzuki has 25 years of expertise as a coastal engineer. His career has been dedicated to advancing physical and numerical modelling in wave overtopping and wave-structure interactions. In recent years, he has contributed to the field of Nature-based Solutions, leveraging cutting-edge numerical modelling tools to develop sustainable approaches to coastal management.