Circular cylinder caisson composite breakwaters

Abstract

A composite breakwater may be an attractive breakwater concept for deep water, say30 - 50 m. The caisson may be a plain front wall of may have a circular form. The circular form may be an advantageous form because the wave pressures and internal pressuresare taken by axial forces. Wave heights in the range Hs = 6 - 11 s and peak periods inthe range Tp = 14 - 17 s should be considered. Although the study is general, two limit states ULS and ALS are of special interest. The wave characteristics of the mentioned sea states are investigated, including the shoaling coefficient on a slope and the reflection coefficient on a slope and the caisson breakwater.The horizontal force on a vertical wall caisson and a cylindrical caisson are compared, and applied to the empirical formulas given by [Goda, 2000] and [Khaskhachikh and Vanchagov,1971]. The influence of the reflection coefficient on the measured forces is a part of this research as well. All results are summarized for the design waves ULS and ALS.