Experimental study on hydrodynamic characteristics of the box-type floating breakwater with different mooring configurations

Abstract

The box-type floating breakwater is simple and durable, which is one important type of floating breakwaters. In this paper, a systematic experimental study on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the box-type floating breakwater is performed in a wave flume, and the influence of the mooring system on the wave attenuation performance of the box-type floating breakwater is studied. The transmission coefficients, reflection coefficients, energy dissipation coefficients, motion responses and mooring forces of the box floating breakwater under the fixed condition and three different mooring configurations are compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that the box-type floating breakwater under the fixed condition has better wave attenuation performance than that under the mooring condition. The cross mooring and parallel mooring configurations without section lying on the seabed are more effective in reflecting and dissipating longer period waves. The results also indicate that there is obvious difference in motion responses of the breakwater under different mooring configurations, and the mooring forces are affected by the motion responses. A reasonable choice of mooring configurations is more conducive to ensuring the safety of floating breakwaters and improving the wave attenuation performance.