Numerical assessment of tsunami attack on a rubble mound breakwater using OpenFOAM®

A numerical assessment study of tsunami attack on the rubble mound breakwater of Haydarpasa Port, located at the southern entrance of the Istanbul Bosphorus Strait in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, is carried out in this study using a Volume-Averaged Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes solver, IHFOAM, developed in OpenFOAM^® environment. The numerical model is calibrated with and validated against the data from solitary wave and tsunami overflow experiments representing tsunami attack. Furthermore, attack of a potential tsunami near Haydarpasa Port is simulated to investigate effects of a more realistic tsunami that cannot be generated in a wave flume with the present state of the art technology. Discussions on practical engineering applications of this type of numerical modeling studies are given focusing on pressure distributions around the crown-wall of the rubble mound breakwater, and the forces acting on the single stone located behind the crown-wall at the rear side of the breakwater. Numerical modeling of stability/failure mechanism of the overall cross-section is studied throughout the paper.The present study shows that hydrodynamics along the wave flume and over the breakwater can be simulated properly for both solitary wave and tsunami overflow experiments. Stability of the overall cross-section can only be simulated qualitatively for solitary wave cases; on the other hand, the effect of the time elapsed during tsunami overflow cannot be reflected in the simulations using the present numerical tool. However, the stability of the overall cross-section under tsunami overflow is assessed by evaluating forces acting on the rear side armor unit supporting the crown-wall of the rubble mound breakwater as a practical engineering application in the present paper. Furthermore, two non-dimensional parameters are derived to discuss the stability of this armor unit; and thus, the stability condition of the overall cross-section. Approximate threshold values for these non-dimensional parameters are presented comparing experimental and numerical results as a starting point for engineers in practice. Finally, investigations on the solitary wave and tsunami overflow experiments/simulations are extended to the potential tsunami simulation in the scope of both representation of a realistic tsunami in a wave flume and stability of the rubble mound breakwater.     

Effects of new variables on the overtopping discharge at steep rubble mound breakwaters — The Zeebrugge case

This paper describes on the one hand parametric tests on wave overtopping for a steep rubble mound breakwater in Zeebrugge, Belgium. On the other hand the comparison between prototype measurements at the breakwater and their scale reproductions in two laboratories is dealt with. The objective is to gain information on possible scale and model effects for wave overtopping from this comparison. The prototype measurements are described together with the resulting dataset of 11 storms where wave overtopping occurred. Scale models and the laboratory measurements are described into detail mentioning similarities and differences to the prototype. Several model effects are identified and special attention is given to wind effects and to the placement pattern of the armour units, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to get an idea about the influence of selected model uncertainties. Finally, scale effects are discussed and the influence of model and scale effects for the performed tests is quantified. Recommendations on how to treat these effects are presented.     

Field measurements of wave overtopping at the rubble mound breakwater of Rome–Ostia yacht harbour

This paper describes a new station for full-scale measurement of wave overtopping at the Rome yacht harbour rubble mound breakwater in Ostia (Italy) and the results of the successful first measurement campaign carried out during the winter season 2003–2004. The equipment and the research activities were supported by the EU project CLASH, focusing on scale effects for wave overtopping at coastal structures. The site is characterized by a very small tidal range, a long shallow foreshore and depth-limited breaking waves which interact with a shallow sloping porous rock structure. Overtopping water is collected by a steel tank installed on the crown slab behind the parapet wall. The measurement of water level variation inside the tank by means of two pressure transducers allows the calculation of individual overtopping volumes. Incident waves, sea levels and wind are also measured. During seven independent storms, more than 400 individual overtopping events were recorded and about 86 h of valid data are available. This extensive dataset is presented, discussed and then used for comparison with two commonly used overtopping prediction formulae based on small-scale model tests showing their tendency to underestimate the prototype results. A strong correlation between the hourly mean overtopping discharge and corresponding maximum volume is also presented. The paper generally confirms the validity of the approach used in Troch et al. (2004) [Troch, P., Geeraets, J., Van de Walle, B., De Rouck, J., Van Damme, L., Allsop, W., Franco, L., 2004. Full-scale wave overtopping measurements on the Zeebrugge rubble mound breakwater. Coastal Engineering 51, 609–628] for field measurement of wave overtopping.     

Core made of geotextile sand containers for rubble mound breakwaters and seawalls: Effect on armour stability and hydraulic performance

A systematic armour stability and the hydraulic performance, including wave reflection, wave transmission, experimental study in the twin-wave flumes of Leichtweiss-Institute (LWI) is performed on a geocore breakwater and a conventional rubble mound breakwater in order to comparatively determine the wave run-up and wave overtopping. The geocore breakwater consists of a core made of sand-filled geotextile containers (GSC) covered by an armour made of rock. The geocore is more than an order of magnitude less permeable than the quarry run core of a conventional breakwater. As expected, the core permeability substantially affects the armour stability on the seaside slope, the wave transmission and the wave overtopping performance. Surprisingly, however, wave reflection and hydraulic stability of the rear slope are less affected. Formulae for the armour stability and hydraulic performance of the geocore breakwater are proposed, including wave reflection, transmission, run-up and overtopping.     

带胸墙斜坡堤越波量的试验研究

带胸墙斜坡式防波堤堤顶标高的合理确定，有赖于越波量的正确计算。本文基于水力学中流量系数的概念，建立越波量的计算公式。对影响流量系数的几个主要因素：波高、波陡、胸墙高、平台宽度、相对水深和护面结构等，进行了较系统的试验和讨论，提出了确定流量系数的经验公式。另外，还根据越波量的大小及越波波态，将堤分为：不越水堤、少量越水堤、越水堤及半潜堤四类，可作为合理确定堤顶标高时参考。     

A Study on Some Causes of Rubble Mound Breakwater Failure

- Rubble mound breakwater, one of the protection structures, has been widely used in coastal and port engineering. Block stones were first used as its armor layer, and its use was limited to shallow sea areas where there is no large waves. Since the specially-shaped armor unit was developed, the rubble mound breakwater has become the main sort of the protection structures, which can be used in deep water zones where storm sometimes occurs. Owing to severe and complex surrounding conditions, the rubble mound breakwater failure sometimes occurs, thus the study on the causes of failure is of great importance. In the present study some breakwater failures at home and abroad are illustrated and the causes of failure are investigated from the point of view of design, test, construction and maintenance.     

Numerical analysis of wave loads for coastal structure stability

The numerical model COBRAS-UC [Losada, I.J., Lara, J.L., Guanche,R., Gonzalez-Ondina, J.M. (2008). Numerical analysis of wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwaters. Coastal Engineering, Vol 55 (1), 47–62.] is used to carry out a two-dimensional analysis of wave induced loads on coastal structures. The model calculates pressure, forces and moments for two different cross-sections corresponding to a low-mound and a conventional rubble-mound breakwater with a crown-wall under regular and irregular incident wave conditions. Predicted results are compared with experimental information provided in Losada et al. [Losada, I.J., Lara, J.L., Guanche,R., Gonzalez-Ondina, J.M. (2008). Numerical analysis of wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwaters. Coastal Engineering, Vol 55 (1), 47–62.] and Lara et al. [Lara, J.L., Losada, I.J., Guanche, R. (2008). “Wave interaction with low mound breakwaters using a RANS model”. Ocean engineering (35), pp 1388–1400; doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2008.05.006.] on a 1:20 scale. Good agreement is found, and the differences between both typologies are explained in detail. Additionally, numerical results are also compared with several semi-empirical formulae recommended for design at both the 1:20 model scale and two prototype cross-sections. Results suggest that COBRAS-UC is able to provide realistic stability information that can be used to complete the approach based on currently existing methods and tools.     

扭王字块体护面斜坡堤越浪量试验研究

针对现行规范中缺少扭王字块体护面斜坡堤越浪量的计算方法,考虑波陡、相对水深、相对堤顶超高、相对坡肩宽度、相对胸墙高度和相对块体尺寸等影响因素,通过波浪水槽物模试验,运用多元回归方法,给出了扭王字块体斜坡堤越浪量中护面结构影响系数和平均越浪量的计算公式。与试验值和其它计算公式进行了验证对比,结果基本吻合,具有一致性的规律。研究成果丰富了规范内容,对斜坡堤工程设计具有重要参考意义。     

Numerical study on the interaction among a nonlinear wave,composite breakwater and sandy seabed

Most previous investigations related to composite breakwaters have focused on the wave forces acting on the structure itself from a hydrodynamic aspect. The foundational aspects of a composite breakwater under wave-induced cyclic loading are also important in studying the stability of a composite breakwater. In this study, numerical simulations were performed to investigate the wave-induced pore water pressure and flow changes inside the rubble mound of the composite breakwater and seabed foundation. The validity and applicability of the numerical model were demonstrated by comparing numerical results with existing experimental data. Moreover, the present model clearly has shown that the instantaneous directions of pore water flow motion inside the seabed induced by surface waves are in good agreement with the general wave-induced pore water flow inside the seabed. The model is further used to discuss the stability of a composite breakwater, i.e., the interaction among nonlinear waves, composite breakwater and seabed. Numerical results suggest that the stability of a composite breakwater is affected by not only downward shear flow generating on the seaward slope face of the rubble mound but, also, a high and dense pore water pressure gradient inside the rubble mound and seabed foundation.     

Numerical analysis of wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwaters

The paper describes the results of a two-dimensional (2-D) numerical modelling investigation of the functionality of rubble mound breakwaters with special attention focused on wave overtopping processes. The model, COBRAS-UC, is a new version of the COBRAS (Cornell Breaking Waves and Structures) based on the Volume Averaged Reynolds Average Navier–Stokes (VARANS) equations and uses a Volume of Fluid Technique (VOF) method to capture the free surface. The nature of the model equations and solving technique provides a means to simulate wave reflection, run-up, wave breaking on the slope, transmission through rubble mounds, overtopping and agitation at the protected side due to the combined effect of wave transmission and overtopping. Also, two-dimensional experimental studies are carried out to investigate the performance of the model. The computations of the free surface and pressure time series and spectra under regular and irregular waves, are compared with the experimental data reaching a very good agreement. The model is also used to reproduce instantaneous and average wave overtopping discharge. Comparisons with existing semi-empirical formulae and experimental data show a very good performance. The present model is expected to become in the near future an excellent tool for practical applications.     

波浪反射系数谱的特征分析

应用斜向不规则波反射系数的改进两点法(MTPM),用模型试验研究了混凝土护面堤和块石护面堤波浪反射系数的频率谱和方向谱,结果表明,分析的反射系数随入射波频率的增加、结构坡度的减小和入射角的加大而减小.给出了波浪反射系数频率谱及其随Iribarren数变化的规律,提出了反射系数三维谱的经验公式,由此可定量地描述斜向不规则波的反射系数随无量纲特征参数Iribarren数和入射波角度的变化规律.     

Laboratory experiments for wave motions and turbulence flows in front of a breakwater

In this paper, laboratory data for free surface displacements and velocity fields in front of a caisson breakwater covered with wave-dissipating blocks, together with wave pressures acting on the caisson, are presented and discussed. The core of the breakwater is made of a concrete caisson with a vertical front wall. The caisson is protected by a thick layer of tetrapods and is supported by a rubble mound. The breakwater is placed on the 1/25 impermeable slope. Two types of incident waves are used in the experiments: nonbreaking waves and spilling-type breaking waves. In the breaking wave case, the incident wave breaks offshore before it reaches the breakwater. The velocity data are obtained by using both the Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) and the Electromagnetic Current Meter (EMCM). The raw data are analyzed using a numerical-filtering scheme so that turbulent fluctuations are separated from the phase-dependent wave motions. The vertical profiles of the time-averaged (over a wave period) turbulent velocity components at several vertical cross-sections in front of the breakwater are then analyzed. The spatial variations of the time-averaged turbulence velocity suggest that turbulence is generated inside the protective armor layer and transported into the flow region in front of the breakwater. The wave pressures on the vertical face and on the bottom of the caisson are also reported.     

Three-dimensional investigations of wave overtopping on rubble mound structures

To study the influence of wave obliquity and directional spreading on wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwaters a total of 736 three-dimensional model tests were carried out at Aalborg University. The results of these tests are presented and analysed in this paper yielding a new empirical reduction factor to describe the influence of wave obliquity and directional spreading on the average wave overtopping discharges. The study shows that perpendicularly incident, long-crested waves result in conservative values of the overtopping discharge for the tested cross-section.     

斜向和多向不规则波在斜坡堤上的平均越浪量的试验研究

通过三维物理模型试验研究了在斜坡堤上斜向和多向不规则波在非破碎条件下的平均越浪量与波浪参数及堤参数的关系.着重考察了波浪以小角度(0°~30°)斜向入射时平均越浪量的变化情况,肯定了多向波的越浪量在这一范围内有所谓“小角度斜向增加”的现象,但否定了单向波也具有这一现象.在考察波浪的方向分布影响时发现波浪斜向入射时多向波的越浪量往往要比单向波的大.比较了已有的相关研究成果,给出了适用于混凝土护面和扭工字块体护面斜坡堤上斜向和多向不规则波的平均越浪量的估算公式.     

Deformation of breakwater armoured artificial units under cyclic loading

Rubble mound breakwaters usually consist of armour, filter and core layers. The units used in the armour layer are natural rock or concrete. Although natural rock is usually preferred, it is not always possible to apply it. There are some advantages to using concrete units: they have a high stability coefficient under wave attack, and they are easily produced at work sites. Tetrapod and cube blocks are widely used in breakwaters as armour units.Rubble mound breakwaters are subjected not only to wave activity but also other types of environmental loading, such as earthquakes. Although rubble-mound breakwaters are most likely the most common type of breakwaters, they have received little attention regarding their response to seismic activity. The objective of this study is to present the dynamic response of a breakwater armoured by tetrapods placed by two different placement methods and armoured by cubes during seismic loadings experimentally and numerically. A shaking tank was developed for the experimental study. The breakwater models sit on a rigid bed, and the model scale is 1/50. A one-dimensional shaking tank was used to understand simple responses of the rubble mound breakwaters under seismic loads. The tank allows only one degree of freedom. A raining crane system was developed to achieve the same packing density and porosity for the core material. The shape of the model breakwater before and after the tests was measured using a profiler and was recorded by computer. However, crest lowering and the level of damage on slopes were determined from profiler records. The dynamic responses of the model breakwaters were also investigated using an image processing technique. For numerical simulation, software using finite element method was used.The results obtained from the experiment and numerical model may help designers build breakwaters armoured by artificial units.     

Moving particle method for modeling wave interaction with porous structures

This paper presents a numerical model for simulating wave interaction with porous structures. Incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics in porous media (ISPHP) method is introduced in this study as a mesh free particle approach that is capable of efficiently tracking the large deformation of free surfaces in a Lagrangian coordinate system. The developed model solves two porous and pure fluid flows simultaneously by means of one equation that is equivalent to the unsteady 2D Navier–Stokes (NS) equations for the flows outside the porous media and the extended Forchheimer equation for the flows inside the porous media. Interface boundary between pure fluid and porous media is effectively modeled by the SPH integration technique. A two-step semi-implicit scheme is also used to solve the fluid pressure satisfying the fluid incompressibility criterion.The developed ISPHP model is then validated via different experimental and numerical data. Fluid flow pattern through porous dam with different porosities is studied and regular wave attenuation over porous seabed is investigated. As a practical case, wave running up and overtopping on a caisson breakwater protected by a porous armor layer are modeled. The results show good agreements between numerical and laboratory data in terms of free surface displacement, overtopping rate and pressure distribution. Based on this study, ISPHP model is an efficient method for simulating the coastal applications with porous structures.     

The phase difference effects on 3-D structure of wave pressure acting on a composite breakwater

In designing the coastal structures, the accurate estimation of the wave forces on them is of great importance. In this paper, the influences of the phase difference on wave pressure acting on a composite breakwater installed in the three-dimensional (3-D) wave field are studied numerically. We extend the earlier model [Hur, D.S., Mizutani, N., 2003. Coastal Engineering 47, 329–345] to simulate 3-D wave fields by introducing 3-D Navier–Stokes solver with the Smagorinsky's sub-grid scale (SGS) model. For the validation of the model, the wave field around a 3-D asymmetrical structure installed on a submerged breakwater, in which the complex wave deformations generate, is simulated, and the numerical solutions are compared to the experimental data reported by Hur, Mizutani, Kim [2004. Coastal Engineering (51, 407–420)]. The model is then adopted to investigate 3-D characteristics of wave pressure and force on a caisson of composite breakwater, and the numerical solutions were discussed with respect to the phase difference between harbor and seaward sides induced by the transmitted wave through the rubble mound or the diffraction. The numerical results reveal that wave forces acting on the composite breakwater are significantly different at each cross-section under influence of wave diffraction that is important parameter on 3-D wave interaction with coastal structures.     

Comparison of new large and small scale overtopping tests for rubble mound breakwaters

Many breakwaters are, due to functional requirements, designed for small wave overtopping discharges. From the EC-research projects OPTICREST and CLASH it is known that overtopping discharges determined from conventional Froude scale models of rubble mound breakwaters are smaller than measured in corresponding prototypes. The present study examines this scale effect by comparing overtopping discharges in small scale and large scale tests. The length scale ratio between the models was 5.7.     

Effect of perforations and rubble mound height on wave transformation characteristics of surface piercing semicircular breakwaters

The present study investigated how the perforations, water depth and rubble mound height on fully perforated semicircular breakwater (SBW) affects non-breaking wave transformations. SBW model with surface piercing condition for three different perforation ratios with 7 percentage, 11 percentage and 17 percentage were considered to study the variation of reflection, transmission, run-up characteristics and dimensionless horizontal and vertical forces as a function of relative water depth and the results are compared with an impermeable SBW and seaside perforated SBW models. From the results it is understood that, SBW with perforation ratio 17 percentage in the case of seaside perforated case shows reverse trend in hydrodynamic characteristics and for fully perforated SBW, it transmits large amount of wave energy on the seaside, which affects the tranquillity condition in the harbour. In addition, transmission characteristics of SBW models and conventional rubble mound breakwater model are compared to understand the effect of composite breakwater action and also the reflection characteristics of SBW models are compared with field data of Miyazaki Port after Sasajima et al. (1994). The results reveal that the SBW model with perforation ratio of 11 percentage in seaside and fully perforated type gives an optimum performance in terms of energy dissipation and transmission.     

On rubble-mound breakwaters of composite slope

The geometrical properties of the armor layer of rubble mound breakwaters were investigated by observations made on two cases. The first case is a laboratory-scaled model of natural rock, designed with a composite slope. The second is a breakwater in the sea, constructed with a uniform slope of tetrapods. In both cases the cross-section underwent changes, resulting in an apparently stable profile of composite slope. This implied that for stability the optimal armour layer should be of composite slope. The general nature of this profile was implied by the geometrical similarity between the two cases which were basically so different.