Performance of the Submerged Dual Buoy/Membrane Breakwaters in Oblique Seas

J. Ocean Eng. Technol. 2001;15(2):11-21.

Kee S.T.

Dept. of Civil Eng. Seoul National University of Technology

Keywords: flexible membrane, submerged and floating breakwater, wave-flexible structure interaction, boundary element method

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on the numerical investigation of obliquely incident wav interactions with a system composed of fully submerged and floating dual buoy/vertical-flexible-membrane breakwaters placed in parallel with spacing between two systems. The fully submerged two systems allow surface and bottom gaps to enable wave transmission over and under the system. The problem is formulated based on the two-dimensional multi-domain hydro-elastic linear wave-body interaction theory. The hydrodynamic interaction of oblique incident waves with the combination of the rigid and flexible bodies was solved by the distribution of the simple sources (modified Bessel function of the second kind) that satisfy the Helmholz governing equation in fluid domains. A boundary element program for three fluid domains based on a discrete membrane dynamic model and simple source distribution method is developed. Using this developed computer program, the performance of various dual systems varying buoy radiuses and drafts, membrane lengths, gaps, spacing, mooring-lines stiffness, mooring types, water depth, and wave characteristics is thoroughly examined. It is found that the fully submerged and floating dual buoy/membrane breakwaters can, if it is properly tuned to the coming waves, have good performances in reflecting the obliquely incident waves over a wide range of wave frequency and headings.