Effect of wave storm representation on damage measurements of breakwaters

Abstract

In this work, the effects of storm representation on damage measurements of a breakwater are studied in a small-scale physical wave flume. In particular, a two-layer breakwater with cubic armor units randomly placed is considered. A storm recorded in the Mediterranean Sea is the basis to analyze the armor layer damage. Storm sea states are represented in the laboratory using four different methodologies: i) Real storm methodology (RSM, used here as benchmark test) ii) Classical methodology (CM) iii) Equivalent Magnitude Storm with a triangular shape (EMSI) and iv) Equivalent Magnitude Storm with a trapezoidal shape (EMSA). For the four methodologies, the experiments are repeated five times. Considering laboratory occupation times, results suggest that a minimum of five repetitions of CM should be performed to obtain an average damage value that can represent the average damage given by RSM. Although this recommendation is linked to the tested conditions, it provides useful information to set-up experiments dealing with similar breakwater and wave conditions.