Bragg Reflection Breakwater: A New Shore Protection Method?

Abstract

The feasibility of a new type of breakwater is explored through a combined program of theorteical analysis, laboratory experiments and a prototype field test. The breakwater consists of a series of low height, shore-parallel bars which are placed just outside the surf-zone. The incident wave field is strongly reflected when the incident wave length is equal to twice the distance between adjacent bars. The breakwater acts to shelter the beach against storm wave attack and to build a tombolo sand deposit behind the breakwater. Theoretical and laboratory studies indicated that the Bragg reflection breakwater concept may have considerable merit, however, a small scale field test served to demonstrate the many practical difficulties in implementing the concept.