Wave Guides for Water

The hydrodynamic cloak that eliminates waves in a channel is pretty awesome. If they can do that, it should be possible to create a safe harbour.

Although afaict it only addresses waves of variable size, but not changes in the volume of water in the channel, which is the big issue with storm surge. I mean you could have calm water in the center of the harbor but still have flooding in the surrounding port. Another question, would it work if the active waveguides were submerged below a large volume of water.

The other design that diverts waves around the 'obstacle' is certainly interesting but in the real world, a diverted wave that protects one place is going to swamp another place by default. Difficult to implement on account of consequences outside the protected zone. In a less populated world it would be pretty awesome. Again I wonder if it would work when entirely submerged.

I guess my biggest question overall is, can metamaterial design handle vast increases in volume. What are the limits and breaking points in a storm surge context.

What if the divergent waves are phased to cancel each other on the opposites side of the protected object?This would not generate harmful waves as a result.

The article link you provided discussed a "wave free" zone. I get it. Reduce or eliminate the horizontal forces of water movement that are coupled with sharp rises and falls in the water level. In other words, reduce the turbulence.

But, unless I am missing something, they can't reduce the hydraulic grade line (or energy grade line if you prefer). Water levels will rise and fall. And rising water levels still equate to flooding and water damage.

And I have my doubts that they could eliminate horizonal motion of the water. Water has to flow from a higher hydraulic grade line to an adjacent lower hydraulic grade line. And the only way that water can move is horizontally.

The bollards could potentially eliminate the flow of debris inside the "safe zone".

I expect structures and humans would have a better chance of survival if the major motion of water was up and down and the water was debris free. That is a plus.

But then, shoreline levees or coffer dams might accomplish all of the above and prevent the flooding at the same time. Problem is, who wants to destroy the view?

Dying first before a tsunami is proven 100% evasion. Or get drunk before it happens (sarcastic)

Early warning system and pre-planned evacuation system / routes may be the best available methods of protection / evasion. But even those have their limitations. Best bet...live in Kansas.

Isn't that kind of what a breakwater does?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakwater_(structure)

A breakwater protects the harbor, but not the rest of the shoreline.

I think "wave guide" is a misnomer for this. Any canal or ditch is a wave guide for for water, but it doesn't cancel waves.

agree