The increasing importance of the sustainability challenge in coastal engineering has led to the development of free surface breakwaters of various configurations. In this study, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a perforated semicircular free surface breakwater (SCB) are investigated for irregular wave conditions. The hydrodynamic performance of the breakwater is evaluated in the form of transmission, reflection and energy dissipation coefficients, which are then presented as a function of the relative submergence depth (D/d) and the relative breakwater width (B/Lp), where D = the depth of immersion, d = the water depth, B = the breakwater width and Lp = the wavelength corresponding to the peak wave period. 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. Based on the analysis of measured data, some empirical equations are proposed to predict the performance of the breakwater under varying submergence depths. The behaviour of wave transformation around and within the breakwater’s chamber is discussed. Also, the measured horizontal wave forces acting on the SCB are reported.
In the present study, the hydrodynamic performance of a semicircular free surface breakwater (SCB) has been investigated through a systematic experimental programme. Three semicircular breakwater models were tested: one with impermeable front and rear walls; a second with perforated front wall and impermeable rear wall; and a third with perforated front and rear walls. The models were tested for three submergence depths with reference to the still water level in a wave flume under irregular seas with different significant wave heights and peak periods. 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 breakwater’s chamber were quantified and presented in the form of a ratio relative to the incident wave height, respectively. Also, the measured horizontal wave forces acting on the SCB were analysed and reported in a dimensionless form. Empirical equations were then developed using nonlinear multiple regression models to estimate the hydrodynamic characteristics of the SCB models.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.