Coastal Structure and Breakwater Engineering in UK: From Research & Development through Dissemination to Application

This paper discusses the development of design methods for coastal structures and breakwaters in the United Kingdom, with particular attention to changes in research activities, publications, technology transfer and the use of research results over the last 200 years. The paper describes some examples of the design and construction of breakwaters and seawalls, methods by which their designs and construction techniques were improved, and how those improvements were promulgated within civil engineering. It discusses problems that arise from recent trends in research funding and publication, and seeks to indicate some possibilities for the future. The paper draws on the author's experience in research and specialist consultancy at HR Wallingford, published papers and books, but is also guided by lessons from related work in UK and elsewhere.