A newly designed ‘architected’ reef can mimic the wave-buffering effects of natural reefs while providing pockets for fish and other marine life. The cost-saving structure could dissipate more than 95 percent of incoming wave energy using a small fraction of the material normally needed. The reef design centers on a cylindrical structure (made of sustainable cement) surrounded by four rudder-like slats. When it stands up against a wave, it efficiently breaks the wave into turbulent jets that ultimately dissipate most of the wave’s total energy.
news.mit.edu/2024/artificial-reef-designed-mit-engineers-protect-marine-life-reduce-storm-damage-0326