Measuring and modelling the sea-waves impact on a cliff: first results from the Ventotene Field Laboratory (Italy)

This study explores the impact of sea waves on coastal landslide mechanisms at the Ventotene Field Laboratory (Italy). The laboratory represents a pioneering integration of real-time monitoring and numerical modeling to assess the dynamic interplay between marine forces and slope stability in natural coastal cliffs. The monitoring system is installed on an 18-meter-high tuffaceous cliff and is equipped with advanced sensors that continuously record rock mass deformation and meteorological and sea wave parameters. This test site is one of the first systems in the world specifically designed to measure the influence of sea wave impacts in the context of landslide studies. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to simulate sea wave impacts on the cliff, and results were integrated into stress-strain numerical modelling to simulate the mechanical response of the slope. Numerical modelling results highlight the influence of the rock mass geostructural configuration on its destabilization, with the outermost parietal block showing pronounced overturning moments under wave-induced pressures. Monitoring data indicate that daily and seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation may further influence the behavior of joints by constraining the rock mass response to sea wave impacts. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms driving coastal slope instability, underscoring the role of marine forces in triggering toppling dynamics. This research provides a novel framework for evaluating and mitigating risks to coastal cliffs and the cultural heritage they sustain, aligning with the objectives of the H2020 TRIQUETRA European project, which funded and supported this study.