AN UNIFIED DESIGN METHOD OF MARITIME WORKS AGAINST WAVES

María Clavero,Dulce Pérez,Miguel Angel Losada,Montserrat Vílchez,María Izaskun Benedicto

doi:10.9753/icce.v33.structures.76

María Clavero, Dulce Pérez + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.9753/icce.v33.structures.76

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Abstract

This work studies the interaction of a composite breakwater and irregular waves as a function of the breakwater geometry and wave characteristics. For this, tests in a flume wave were carried out. The model consisted of a composite breakwater with rectangular cross section and with the width, foundation depth and stone diameter varying in order to know their influence in the breakwater behavior. Results show that reflection coefficient increase with B/L (where B is the width of the dike and L is the wave length) until a maximum value (saturation point) from which it is constant or decreases slightly. Before this point, reflection coefficient depends on breakwater geometry and wave characteristics and when the dike reaches the saturation regime, it only depends on stone diameter or porosity. The value of the sea water elevation at the wall and the horizontal pressure depends on the reflection coefficient. Finally, the relationship between horizontal and vertical forces is linear depending on the reflection regime. This analysis shows that energy distribution is the main variable to know the structural behavior of a dike. Based on these results, a methodology to obtain the loads over the composite breakwater is proposed.

Highlights

For many decades the harbors have been protected from the action of waves by means of mound, vertical or composite breakwaters
For the range of relative width B/L analyzed, the results showed that the reflection coefficient increases to reach its maximum value; there is a zone of saturation adjustment and a saturation regime where the reflection coefficient can be considered constant
The reflection coefficient depends on breakwater geometry and wave characteristics and when the dike reaches the saturation regime, it only depends on stone diameter or porosity

Summary

INTRODUCTION

For many decades the harbors have been protected from the action of waves by means of mound, vertical or composite breakwaters. In case of the vertical or composite breakwater, the calculation is realized applying a semi-empirical law of maximum pressures and subpressures (Goda 1985; Takahashi 1996), and the breakwater dimensions are the necessary to delimit the failure by slide and overturn. The objective of this work is to study the variables involved in a composite breakwater behavior as a function of the dike geometry and wave characteristics for irregular waves and to obtain a methodology to calculate the loads over the structure

BACKGROUND

Findings

CONCLUSIONS