ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SPRING 2026 - COLLOQUIUM SERIES
Friday, March 27, 2026, 12:20-13:10 PM
CAST 212 / Teams (tinyurl.com/enve-seminar)
Flow and sediment dynamics in coastal aquatic habitats: A flume approach to explore how vegetation and oysters alter their environment
Dr. Jorge E. San Juan - Assistant Professor Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering - North Carolina State University
Abstract: Submerged aquatic vegetation and oyster reefs are three-dimensional structures with diverse morphologies that modify flow and sediment transport. In estuarine environments, these habitats create spatially variable flow resistance, leading to localized patterns of sediment dynamics. Anticipating sediment flux behavior in aquatic vegetation and oyster reef zones is essential for effective restoration planning. This presentation will examine how submerged plants and low-relief oyster reefs modify flow structure and the resulting sediment transport patterns. Using flume experiments, the first part of this talk will examine the impact of submerged vegetation and waves on the sediment motion. The second part will explore the role of oyster density in the formation of a mixing zone and the relevance of dispersive stresses on estimates of suspended sediment fluxes. Our results highlight the need to jointly analyze spatial and temporal variations in flow and sediment flux to capture the impact of coastal aquatic habitats.
Bio: Dr. Jorge E. San Juan is an Assistant Professor in the CCEE department at NC State. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on how hydrodynamics and sediment transport shape coastal habitats. Through physical models in flume experiments, Dr. San Juan seeks to develop empirical and theoretical frameworks for eco-hydro-morphodynamics. Currently, his research group concentrates on mixing mechanisms in seagrass mats and sediment transport through oyster reefs.