Аннотация:A model of an artificial beach is suggested for protection of coasts under erosion due to intense storm surges. It is shown that the coarser beach sand results in decrease of the beach width and growth of nourishment volume. At the same time relative material loss due to long-shore sediment transport diminishes too. The model has been applied to three sections of the coasts of Kurortny district of S.-Petersburg (eastern part of the Gulf of Finland). It recommends medium sand for the beaches construction. Modeling of extreme storms effect shows only minor deformations for designed beach profiles. For the beaches more than 1 km long even in 30-50 years more than a half of the initial beach volume conserves without additional nourishment.