Abstract: To testify whether the model of porous media can be applied to accurately simulate the impacts of broken waves near-shore on plants, we proposed a generalized model of porous media. The model is based on two-dimensional facade free face turbulence model. The characteristics of tree crowns were taken into consideration. Tree crowns and tree trunks were partitioned into two zones of porous media and were given different void ratios. Furthermore, the simulated results of instantaneous flow regime, wave line, maximum wave run-up value and time-averaged wave pressure on dike foot obtained from the model were compared with those of physical model test. The results were in good agreement, which indicated that the model of porous media has high accuracy in simulating the effects of counter-wave plants under the condition of broken waves.

Key words: model of multiple layers, model of porous media, wave attenuation by plants, wave line, wave run-up value, numerical simulation, physical model