Modelling of random waves over submerged breakwaters and its application to reflection estimation

Abstract

Reflection and transmission of random waves from submerged obstacles under various conditions are investigated in this study by means of the boundary element method. The algorithm is based on the Lagrangian description with finite difference adopted for the approximation of time derivative. The accuracy of the model is confirmed by a previous study of the transmission of irregular waves in a water tank without any obstacle, under which sets of submerged breakwaters are located. To reduce the effect of reflection from the wall, a sponge zone is employed at the other end of the flume as an artificial absorbing beach. The power spectrum of Bretschneider-Mitsuyasu type defined by significant wave height, H 1/3, and period, T 1/3, is employed for the condition of incident waves chosen for the generation of irregular waves. Time histories of water elevations are measured with numerous pseudo wave gages on the free water surface. With reference to the method for the estimation of irregular incident and reflected waves in random sea presented by Goda and Suzuki (1976), the dissipation efficiency of the breakwaters is investigated. Gauges in different positions are tested for their suitability for the estimation of reflection coefficients for irregular waves. The present results demonstrate the effectiveness of the estimation of reflection coefficient for random waves, and indicate the feasibility of the numerical model.