Author(s)

S. Pan, N.J. MacDonald, B.A. O'Connor & J. Nicholson

Abstract

This paper presents results of physical model experiments carried out to study the hydrodynamics around a group of offshore breakwaters in the UK Coastal Research Facility (UKCRF) at HR Wallingford. The results of tests with oblique monochromatic (MON) and long-crested random (LCR) sea states are presented of a fixed bed, 1:28 scale model of the Elmer site in southern England. The measured wave and flow results show the three-dimensional complexity of the system due to wave reflection from the breakwaters and, especially, wave transmission and flow through the breakwaters. The results highlight the necessity to consider the permeability of coastal structures in the numerical modelling of nearshore circulation. 1

Keywords