Wave interaction with hinged flexible breakwater

Abstract

A closed-form, linear analytic solution for the problem of wave interaction with a hinged flexible breakwater is presented. The fluid motion is described theoretically by utilizing an eigenseries representation of linear wave theory. The flexible breakwater is modelled by a beam hinged at sea bottom and with moorings at top. The beam is assumed to have uniform stiffness and mass distribution. The coupling problem of fluid and structure interaction is solved in differential forms. From the present theoretical solution, the effects of the structural flexibilities on the reflecting, transmitting waves, and the structural responses to the incident waves are investigated. Present analytic solutions compare favorably well with experimental results.