A probabilistic method for motion analysis of caisson breakwaters

It is assumed that, during the design period, the waves acting on breakwaters are divided into three types: standing wave I broken wave and breaking wave, and the wave heights fit the Rayleigh distribution while the water depths, wave periods and duration of breaking wave impact force fit normal distribution. Based on the random samples of water depths, wave heights, wave periods and duration of breaking wave impact force, the types of waves acting on breakwaters are distinguished and the time-history model of the wave force is determined. The motions of caisson breakwaters under the wave force are simulated by a dynamic numerical model and the statistic characteristics of the dynamic responses are analyzed with the Monte Carlo method. A probabilistic procedure to analyze the motion of the breakwater is developed therein. The procedure is illustrated by an example.