Oblique Irregular Waves Load on Semicircular Breakwater

Abstract

Based on oblique irregular wave physical model tests, the hydraulic characteristics of the semicircular breakwater are studied in this paper. The variations of wave forces on unit length of semicircular breakwater with the main effective factors including wave steepness Hs/Ls , relative wave height Hs/d, d′/Hs and the angle of incidence θ0 are studied. In addition, the longitudinal distribution of wave forces, and the longitudinal load reduction are analyzed. Some empirical formulae of the longitudinal distribution coefficient and the longitudinal load reduction factor are presented for practical use. Particularly, the conditions for trough values of the total horizontal wave forces are larger than crest values are discussed.