Flume experiments and numerical simulation were conducted to characterize the hydrodynamics of a trapezoid artificial reef.Measurements in particle image velocimetry were conducted to observe the formation of upwelling and vortices;and forces for the reef model were measured by load cell.The results of flume experiments agree well with the numerical data.In addition,the flow structure around a reef combining trapezoidal and cubic blocks was simulated numerically under two deployment schemes,showing a more complicated flow structure than that of a stand-alone reef.Relationship between drag coefficient and Reynolds number suggest that the degree of turbulence can be assessed from the value of drag coefficient downstream from the reef.The role of the reef in water flow is to reduce flow velocity and generate turbulence. Flume experiments and numerical simulation were conducted to characterize the hydrodynamics of a trapezoid artificial reef. Measurement in particle image velocimetry were conducted to observe the formation of upwelling and vortices; and forces for the reef model were measured by load cell. The results of flume experiments agree well with the numerical data. In addition, the flow structure around a reef combining trapezoidal and cubic blocks was simulated numerically under two deployment schemes, showing a more complicated flow structure than that of a stand-alone reef. Relationships between drag coefficient and Reynolds number suggest that the degree of turbulence can be assessed from the value of drag coefficient downstream from the reef. The role of the reef in water flow is to reduce flow velocity and generate turbulence.