Model Testing of Low-Crested Breakwaters

Small-scale model tests were conducted to assess the wave transmission characteristics of low-crested breakwaters. The goals of this study are to quantify the wave transmission characteristics of these breakwaters for various structure-heights, water depths, and wave conditions. The tests were conducted on cross-sections of solid and rubble breakwater models. Results indicate that wave transmission past rubble breakwaters can be approximated by solid breakwaters for deeply submerged breakwaters only. For higher breakwaters, wave transmission through governs so that rubble structures will differ from solid ones. Based on the regular and irregular wave tests, a new parameter, (F- Ru) H sub j is proposed to better represent transmission past a breakwater for all values of freeboard.