Performance evaluation of submerged breakwater using Multi-Domain Boundary Element Method

Abstract

The gravity wave interaction with submerged breakwater of different structural configurations are investigated based on the small-amplitude wave theory. The boundary value problem is analysed in two-dimension using the linearized wave theory in water of finite depth. The submerged breakwater structural configuration such as (i) thin-walled type (impermeable), (ii) rectangular type (impermeable and permeable), (iii) triangular type (impermeable, permeable, perforated), (iv) trapezoidal type (impermeable, permeable, perforated) and (v) Tandem type (impermeable, permeable, perforated) are considered to analyse and performance of the breakwater. The numerical model is developed using the Multi-Domain Boundary Element Method (MDBEM) to analyse the hydrodynamic scattering coefficient (such as reflection, transmission and dissipation coefficient) for the change of physical parameters such as relative spacing between the breakwaters, relative water depth and structural dimensions. The convergence of the present numerical model is performed for the specific case of tandem breakwater and numerical computation is validated with the results available in the literature. The wave reflection and transmission coefficient along with wave force on the structure is analysed for different shapes, structural parameters and geometrical parameters of the breakwater to maximize the efficiency of breakwater. In the case of permeable breakwater, the submerged tandem breakwater is found to be more efficient in wave transformation as compared to rectangular, triangular and trapezoidal permeable submerged breakwaters. The comparative analysis performed on different configurations of the breakwater in the present study will be helpful in the effective design of the breakwater near the harbour regions. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd