Performance Analysis of a Semicircular Free Surface Ocean Structure under the Different Water Depths

Abstract

The increasing importance of the sustainability challenge in o engineering has led to the development of free surface ocean structure of various configurations. In this study, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a perforated free surface, semicircular breakwater (SCB) are investigated for irregular wave conditions under the different water depths. The performance of the breakwaters was evaluated in the form of coefficients of transmission (CT), reflection (CR) and energy dissipation (CL). The measured wave modification in front of the structure and in the structure’s chamber were quantified and presented in the form of a ratio relative to the incident wave height, respectively, which are then presented as a function of the relative immersion depth (D/d) and the relative structure width (B/Lp), where D = the depth of immersion, d = the water depth, B = the structure width and Lp = the wavelength corresponding to the peak wave period. The measured wave modification in front of the structure and in the breakwater’s chamber were quantified and presented in the form of a ratio relative to the incident wave height, respectively. It is found that the wave attenuation ability of the SCB model improves with the increase of D/d and B/Lp. The SCB performs better as an energy dissipater than as a wave reflector.