Prediction of Wave Transmission Characteristics of Low-Crested Structures with Comprehensive Analysis of Machine Learning

The adoption of low-crested and submerged structures (LCS) reduces the wave behind a structure, depending on the changes in the freeboard, and induces stable waves in the offshore. We aimed to estimate the wave transmission coefficient behind LCS structures to determine the feasible characteristics of wave mitigation. In addition, various empirical formulas based on regression analysis were proposed to quantitatively predict wave attenuation characteristics for field applications. However, inherent variability of wave attenuation causes the limitation of linear statistical approaches, such as linear regression analysis. Herein, to develop an optimization model for the hydrodynamic behavior of the LCS, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 10 types of machine learning models, which were compared and reviewed on the prediction accuracy with existing empirical formulas. We found that, among the 10 models, the gradient boosting model showed the highest prediction accuracy with MSE of 1.0 × 10(−3), an index of agreement of 0.996, a scatter index of 0.065, and a correlation coefficient of 0.983, which indicates a performance improvement over the existing empirical formulas. In addition, based on a variable importance analysis using explainable artificial intelligence, we determined the significant importance of the input variable for the relative freeboard (R(C)/H(0)) and the relative freeboard to water depth ratio (R(C)/h), which confirms that the relative freeboard was the most dominant factor for influencing wave attenuation in the hydraulic behavior around the LCS. Thus, we concluded that the performance prediction method using a machine learning model can be applied to various predictive studies in the field of coastal engineering, deviating from existing empirical-based research.