Run-up, run-down and reflection characteristics of semicircular breakwater for varying seaside perforations

Abstract

Breakwaters are mainly used for the purpose of withstanding and dissipating the dynamic energy of ocean waves and thereby provide tranquillity conditions on the lee side. Semicircular breakwaters are being used increasingly around the globe because of their great advantages. The paper explains physical studies conducted on seaside-perforated semicircular breakwater models to evaluate the wave run-up, wave run-down, and reflection coefficient for various wave heights (H), wave periods (T), water depths (d), incident wave steepness (H i/gT 2), depth parameter (d/gT 2), and relative spacing S/D (S = c/c spacing of perforations, D = diameter of perforations) on the seaside. It is observed that as the incident wave steepness increases, there is a decrease in the reflection coefficient (K r), and relative run-down (R d/H i) but increase in relative run-up (R u/H i). As the S/D ratio decreased (percentage of perforations increased), there was drop in the reflection coefficient, relative run-up, and relative run-down. As the depth parameter increased, there was a decrease in the relative run-up and reflection coefficient, but increase in relative run-down. 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.