Laboratory and field studies to ensure the regulatory framework development and the transport facilities’ safety in the wave effect conditions

This article is part of the author’s dissertation research in the field of scientific substantiation of the development and improvement of the regulatory framework for ensuring the safety of transport facilities in conditions of wave effect. The article deals with such transport structure elements as bridge piers and railway roadbeds, which are located on the shores of the seas and are exposed to wave effects, and, as a result, need to be protected. The relevance of the issue is due to the fact that an insufficient justification degree of design solutions for engineering protection structures can lead to environmental disasters and large financial losses. Usually, competent and strict regulation of the design process and survey work allows for avoiding large financial losses. Regulatory framework development will improve the reliability of transport facilities located in the wave effect zone. At the same time, technical regulations requirements must be substantiated by scientific research. The article presents some results of scientific research carried out by the author to ensure the regulatory framework development and the safety of transport facilities in wave effect conditions. The following methods of scientific research were used in the work: field observations and surveys of the coastal zone and engineering protection structures of transport facilities from wave effect and physical (hydraulic) modeling. The results of long-term field observations and surveys of the coastal zone and engineering protection structures of the railway roadbed are used: sea wall, protective wave-damping strips, groins, breakwaters, etc. at the Tuapse-Adler sections of the North Caucasian Railway and Korsakov-Nogliki of the Far Eastern Railway. The author presents laboratory studies results of the wave protection structures operation (protective slopes, wave-damping strips with retaining structures, etc.), which were carried out by the physical (hydraulic) modeling method in wave pools and flumes. Provides information about the regulations developed with the author’s participation based on the research. The expected efficiency from the practical application of the developed normative documents is described.