No abstract

This paper introduces an innovative deflector system to reduce the threats of rip currents. The objectives of this research are; the assessment of the proposed tool to deflect the floating subjects caught by rip currents, study the effect of deflector angles on the values and directions of the rip current velocities and investigate the effect of the deflector distances from the shoreline on rip currents. To achieve the study objectives, experimental works, field measurements, and mathematical formula derivation of different parameters, were carried out. The proposed deflector systems were modelled with different shapes and materials. The experiments were executed first without placing the proposed deflectors, as a reference case (A). Then three different types of the proposed deflectors were checked with different water depths (5, 7.5, 10, and 15 cm), different wave frequencies (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 min− 1), and different distances (95, 105, and 125 cm) for the deflector seaward from the shoreline were examined. The rip current velocities have inversed relation to the distance of the deflector from the shoreline. In addition, it is concluded that the deflectors can direct the swimmers away from the center of rip currents; so, to minimize drowning. It is recommended to investigate the effect of using different scales of the proposed deflectors on the rip current behaviour.