Wave-in-deck impulsive pressure on unsheltered jetties exposed to waves and current

Impulsive pressure induced by waves is an important factor to be considered in the design of offshore structures. This paper presents results from physical model tests on the impulsive pressure on deck of unsheltered jetties and similar structures exposed to directional waves in the presence of currents. The pressures were measured on a 1:50 scale model of a jetty head with down-standing beams and berthing members. Different incident wave angles, the current velocities and the angles between wave and current were considered to identify the effects of these factors on the impulsive pressures. Data collected from model tests were analyzed to gain insights on the mechanics of the impulsive pressure under different wave and current conditions. It is shown that the impulsive pressure is sensitive to the wave directionality and the current magnitude.