Episode 109 – How Coastal Structures Hold Back the Ocean

Episode 109 – How Coastal Structures Hold Back the Ocean

From The Structural Engineering Podcast by Zach and Max

May 17, 2026 · 1h 1m · Season 7

About this episode

The episode explores flood and wave design in coastal structures and how engineers assess flood risks and loads.

In this episode, we dig into flood and wave design and explore when water transitions from a site consideration into a true structural load case. We talk through how engineers identify flood risk, interpret FEMA flood maps, and determine when flood, wave, or debris loads must be considered—especially for engineers who typically design in dry conditions.We break down the difference between flood loads and wave impact, how elevated structures, piles, and breakaway walls behave under water-driven forces, and where standard structural intuition starts to fall apart. The conversation also covers how ASCE 7, ASCE 24, and FEMA guidance are used in practice, common misconceptions around seawalls and shoreline protection, how engineers communicate risk to clients, and what the future of coastal design may look like as conditions continue to evolve. Links & Resources:StructurEd (our free study tool): TheEngineeringPodcast.com/StructurEdStructural Trivia:Sign up for our structural trivia! A quick email mid-week will keep you sharp.Reach out to us:TheEngineeringPodcast.comInstagramLinkedin

People in this episode

Hosts: Zach, Max

Topics covered

  • coastal engineering
  • flood design
  • wave impact
  • structural loads
  • seawalls
  • shoreline protection

Keywords

  • flood risk
  • wave loads
  • FEMA flood maps
  • structural intuition
  • coastal design
  • elevated structures
  • breakaway walls

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FEMA, ASCE, ASCE 7, ASCE 24

Places: coastal

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