Wave interaction with an upright breakwater structure

Abstract

Breakwaters are often built in coastal waters to facilitate navigation and recreation, both inside and outside regions of the breakwater. This requires that the reflection and transmission characteristics of the structure be both minimized at the same time. This is achieved by a design that will allow dissipation of wave energy by multiple reflection. Such structures will need the knowledge of these characteristics in their design. Model tests were performed on a shallow water breakwater concept of this type to determine the reflection and transmission coefficients. The concept of the breakwater was to reduce both the reflection and transmission of waves. It was found that the breakwater design was effective at certain wave characteristics. Nondimensional loads and local pressures on the breakwater panels are also reported which will facilitate the structural design of such breakwaters.