Wave forces on a gravity-type curtain-walled breakwater and the stability against waves

Abstract

In order to minimize the construction cost of the breakwater for a comparatively deep sea area, such as 20 to 30m depths, a new type of curtain walled breakwater is proposed. It is a gravity-type curtainwalled breakwater mounted on the concrete-made mound with wide footings. Super structures and curtain walls are supported by steel piles fixed on the concrete mound. Wave transmission and reflection characteristics of the new breakwater are examined experimentally by changing configurations of super structures and draft depths of curtain walls. Numerical computations by the damping wave theory are also conducted to find out the optimal section of the breakwater. Wave forces on the new breakwater with an optimal section were also examined experimentally and theoretically. Stability test of the breakwater against waves was also carried out. Copyright © 2005 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.