Hydrodynamic characteristics of curved and vertical front face pile-supported breakwaters in regular waves

The hydrodynamic performance characteristics of curved and vertical front face pile-supported breakwaters are evaluated in this paper. Two curved profiles, viz. Galveston wall shape (GS) and circular-cum parabola shape (CPS) are adopted as the seaward face for pile-supported breakwaters designated as GS-PSB & CPS-PSB, respectively. A comparison of the hydrodynamic performance characteristics of the said two types with a vertical face type (VW-PSB) is carried out. Experimental investigations on the three models were carried out in a wave flume under the action of regular harmonic waves. Wave energy transmission past the GS-PSB and CPS-PSB models were found to be lesser than that past the VW-PSB. The reflection of incident wave energy was found to be the least for CPS-PSB followed by GS-PSB and VW-PSB. The energy dissipation was observed to be a maximum for CPS-PSB, moderate in GS-PSB, whereas, the minimum was experienced by the VW-PSB. The dynamic pressures induced by long waves are observed to be more for CPS-PSB and GS-PSB than those exerted on the VW-PSB model. The run-up on the GS-PSB and CPS-PSB models are compared and a qualitative assessment of overtopping is reported.