Experimental and Numerical Study on Tsunami-Like Flow Impact on Fujairah Port Breakwater

Abstract

Experimental and numerical studies were conducted to assess the stability of the breakwater of Fujairah Port on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates against tsunamis. Experiments were conducted on a 1:50 scale and numerical analysis was done with the formulas of tsunami-breakwater interaction. The experimental observations corroborated the numerical results. The breakwater was safe up to 3[Formula: see text]m of tsunami height, but when the tsunami height increased from 3[Formula: see text]m to 6[Formula: see text]m, the percentage damage to the leeside (portside) of the breakwater increased compared to the seaside. The leeside of the breakwater was deformed by tsunami overtopping and seepage — the breakwater cross-section reshaped from trapezoidal to quasi-triangular at 6[Formula: see text]m tsunami impact, however, the breakwater was not breached. Rubbles of the breakwater were transported due to sliding, rolling, and saltation by overtopping and seepage. For 6[Formula: see text]m tsunami height, rubbles from the seaside rolled over up with saltation and transported to the leeside. A large number of rubbles were transported landward from the leeside of the breakwater but a few were displaced offshore from the seaside.