Revolutionizing Coastal Infrastructure Durability with Pervious Concrete: A Cost-Effective, High-Performance Seawall

This project develops and validates a pervious concrete seawall system to reduce wave loads and mitigate scour-related degradation at lower cost and maintenance demand. The work integrates (i) high-fidelity finite element analysis for preliminary design, (ii) fabrication of pervious concrete with tuned porosity (15–35%) using durability-enhancing binders and engineered biochar, (iii) controlled wave flume experiments with instrumented specimens and backfill monitoring, and (iv) seawall design optimization accelerated by surrogate model and genetic algorithm. To achieve the above mentioned integration, the research will proceed through a series of coordinated actions. First, the research team will build a high-fidelity finite element model, analyze the wave load in seawall, and achieve a preliminary design. Next, pervious concrete specimens with controlled porosity will be fabricated using the preliminary design and tested in a wave flume, which simulates real coastal conditions by generating programmable waves and measuring forces, displacements, and backfill scour behind the seawall. Finally, the team will apply a HyperNetwork, a neural architecture that dynamically generates predictive models, to estimate performance metrics such as energy dissipation and structural stability across different design configurations. The research team has rich experience in developing surrogate models for engineering applications and will complete building this HyperNetwork-based surrogate model in six months. This HyperNetwork will be used together with a genetic algorithm to search for Pareto-optimal designs that balance durability, hydraulic efficiency, and cost. This integrated approach ties together physical testing and advanced modeling to deliver practical, field-ready guidance with the objective of reducing wave-driven degradation and improving structural resilience in simple, cost-effective terms.

• Record URL:
  • https://transportation.umkc.edu/project/revolutionizing-coastal-infrastructure-durability-with-pervious-concrete-a-cost-effective-high-performance-seawall

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $69,996.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348335

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Center for Healthy and Durable Transportation

  University of Missouri Kansas City
  Kansas City, Missouri  United States  64110
• Principal Investigators:

  Wang, Haifeng

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20261231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Finite element method; Impact loads; Neural networks; Ocean waves; Porous materials; Predictive models; Sea walls; Structural design
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Design; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01987031
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Healthy and Durable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348335
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Apr 23 2026 4:44PM