Investigations of wave reflection and transmission through berm structures

Abstract

A breakwater is designed to dissipate wave energy with due attention focused on hydraulic, geotechnical and structural stability. The use of physical models is the principal method for investigating experimentally the performance of breakwaters. Research on the design and construction of breakwaters has led to the development of new concepts and further examination of alternative design practices. One such alternative is the use of the berm breakwaters. In berm breakwaters, the hydraulics of wave structure interaction plays a vital role in the dissipation of wave energy. It is therefore evident that a detailed investigation of this subject using a large scale hydraulic model would provide information leading to improved design with respect to hydraulic efficiency and minimization of costs. The investigation was designed to obtain a complete profile of the energy dissipation characteristics of the structure, including damping of waves along the berm and its full structure.