Traditional forms of armor are relatively low in cost, but they are frequently associated with numerous adverse social and environmental consequences such as unattractive, restricting public access to beaches, fostering a false sense of security, and adversely affecting the natural ecosystem. An innovative structural system, kinetic umbrellas, are designed for hard countermeasures against nearshore hazards. The system is inspired by the works of Spanish-Mexican master builder and artist Félix Candela. The typical concept of an umbrella is modified to incorporate a hinge at the vertex, allowing the umbrella to tilt from its initial upright position. The kinetic umbrellas are intended to remain in their upright position during normal operation, providing shade and shelter along the waterfront while not limiting access to the shore (left). The deployment of this defense system through its transition into a conventional floodbarrier is only initiated during imminent hazard scenarios (right). An animated video of the umbrella shows its potential effect.  Experiments will validate complex nonlinear numerical models.

This project has captured media attention, where articles have been written as follows:

Partial List of References

  • Wang, S., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B. (20xx). “Geometry of N-edged Hyperbolic Paraboloidal Umbrellas” submitted to Engineering Structures.
  • Wang, S., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B., Deike, L. (20xx). “Feasibility of Kinetic Umbrellas as Deployable Flood Barriers during Landfalling Hurricanes” submitted to Jnl. of Structural Engineering
  • Wang, S., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B., Deike, L. (2021). “Feasibility of Kinetic Umbrellas as Deployable Flood Barriers during Landfalling Hurricanes” submitted to Jnl. of Structural Engineering
  • Wang, S., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B. (2021). “Kinematics of Deployable Hyperbolic Paraboloid Umbrellas “, Engineering Structures, Elsevier, Vol. 244 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112750
  • Wang, S., Notario, V., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B. (2021). “Parameterization of Hydrostatic Behavior of Deployable Hypar Umbrellas as Flood Barriers, Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier, Vol. 163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2021.107650
  • Wang, S., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B. (2019). “Hydrostatic Response of Deployable Hyperbolic Paraboloid Umbrellas as Coastal Armor”, Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002619
  • Wang, S., Garlock, M.E.M., Glisic, B. (2021). “Parametric Modeling of Depth-limited Wave Spectra under Hurricane Conditions with Applications to Kinetic Umbrellas against Storm Surge Inundation”,Water, MDPI Publishers, 13, 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13030251