In Galle harbor area and also in Unawatuna beach we get lots of knowledge regarding to the coastal engineering. In Galle harbor got knowledge mainly about bollards, water breaking structures. In Unawatuna beach area got knowledge mainly about soil erosion due coastal waves and also the water breaking structures
Field visit in Galle harbor area and Unawatuna beach
Galle Harbor is a natural harbor, located in Galle, south-western coast of Sri Lanka. Currently Galle port serves as one of the most active regional ports in the country and it is also the only Sri Lankan port that provides facilities for pleasure yachts. International yacht societies have recognized Galle harbor as one of the world's best attractions for yachting.
Mooring Bollards
Mooring bollard is a vital component of any mooring system. It is the anchor point for mooring lines to be fixed in order to secure the vessel. It is usually a short post on a quay / jetty. Generally, design of a bollard should have a thicker diameter at the top (head / tip of the structure) to make it harder for the mooring lines to escape accidentally. It is important to provide a solid anchor point for mooring ropes. Certain designs have double bollards for ropes to be cross-fastened. Such an arrangement would provide a tighter connection. Single and double designs are both available in the market today. In Galle harbor they mainly used Horn bollards. This bollard made from cast iron.
Break water structures
Break water structure is a structure which is designed to absorb the energy of the waves that hit it, either by using mass or by using a revetment slope. In both Galle harbor and in Unawatuna beach area they used rubble mounded break water structure for this purpose. But design of this structure is not sufficient withstand the sea waves which is in high tide sessions. The waves are overtopping above the rubbles in that sessions. Therefore this structures are redesign for the future to get maximum output from it.
In Galle harbor break water structures are used both near to the jetties and also center of the sea. In Unawatuna area break water structure is construct to reduce the wave speed mainly because of the area is tourist bathing area.
Coastal erosion and sedimentation.
Coastal erosion is the wearing a way of material from a coastal profile including the removal of beach, sand dunes, or sediment by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, drainage or high winds.
Coastal sedimentation is the interaction of coastal land forms to various complex interactions of physical processes. The primary agent in coastal sediment transport is wave activity, followed by tides and storm surge, and near shore currents. Due this sedimentation of sand in the Unawatuna beach the shape of the beach shows like a parabolic shape.