Wave blocking efficiency of flexible membrane breakwaters in oblique seas
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abstract
The interaction of oblique incident waves with a tensioned, inextensible, vertical flexible membrane wave barrier hinged at the sea floor and a surface buoy is investigated in the context of two-dimensional linear wave-body interaction theory. First, analytic solutions were obtained for an idealized system without buoy. Second, a more practical system with the membrane tension provided by a buoy is investigated by numerical methods. For each case, both submerged and surface-piercing systems were considered. A two-domain boundary element method is developed based on a discrete membrane dynamic model and simple-source distribution over the entire fluid boundaries. Using the developed computer program, the performance of surface-piercing or submerged buoy/membrane wave barriers is tested with various waterdepths, membrane, buoy, and mooring characteristics and wave conditions including oblique wave headings. It is found that the efficiency of a submerged or surface-piercing buoy/membrane breakwater can be enhanced in oblique waves for certain design conditions. From our numerical examples, it can be concluded that the buoy/membrane wave barrier can function as a very effective breakwater even in oblique waves if it is properly designed.
