COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE

Paper No: 024

HYDRODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF HORIZONTAL SLOTTED

VERTICAL WAVE SCREEN BREAKWATER
by
C.Krishnakumar , S.A.Sannasiraj2, V.Sundar3
1

ABSTRACT
A comprehensive experimental program was conducted to assess the hydrodynamic performance of a
slotted vertical wave screen with series of horizontal slots. The model screen porosity of 9.1% was l is
subjected to regular and random wave field with normal wave attack. The given wave parameter is
decomposed to find its reflection and transmission characteristics. The variation in pressure along the
water depth is also measured with the help of pressure transducers housed on the top four individual
elements below the still water line of the model. Energy dissipation in the chamber created by having
the vertical impermeable wall on the leeside of the permeable wave screen is also discussed in this
paper. The pressure measurements were made on the vertical impermeable wall in presence and
absence of the wave screen. In addition the effect of partial depth of submergence of the permeable
screen were studied in order to assess the changes in its hydrodynamic performance. The tests have
been carried out for three different relative depth of submergence of the screen. The details of the
experimental set-up, procedure, results and discussion are presented in this paper.

1. INTRODUCTION
With an increase in demand for deep draft harbors, vertical wall breakwater structures are found to be
economical and easy to construct. However due to the vertical impermeable front, reflection of
incoming waves occurs at the structure face, which may cause manifold problems like, causing
instability to moored or maneuvering vessels and to the structure itself due to scour. The effects of
reflection may be severe enough that necessitates the use of low reflection structures, or even
modifications to improve the performance of existing structures. This leads to the concept of
permeable vertical wall structures, which partly dissipates the incident wave energy. These permeable
structures not only act as a wave absorbers, that will eliminate excessive wave reflection from smooth
vertical walls, but also find its application in the construction of small harbors or marina where a
certain amount of wave transmission is permissible. Apart from this, these structures are preferable,
where, there is a need to rehabilitate the existing coastal structures as well as to prevent the damage
due to erosion along the shoreline. The optimization of the performance characteristics of these types
of porous structures necessitates an in-depth study of different configuration of porous walls in waves.
Several researchers in the past have investigated the performance of vertical slotted screen
breakwaters through numerical and experimental programs [Gruene and Kohlhase (1974), Kakuno
(1983), Isaacson et al (1998 and 1999), Chakrabarti (1999) and Huang (2007)]. Using the linear theory
for the flow external to the slotted screen, Bennett et al. (1992) studied the effects of energy
dissipation in the flow through the screen by accounting a semi-empirical nonlinear term involving a
head-loss coefficient. Gardner and Townend (1988) reviewed the existing results of theoretical and
experimental studies on the wave transmission characteristics of horizontal slotted breakwaters and
discussed the case history of a marina breakwater system. The model tests on a screen breakwater
made with horizontal rectangular plank as wave intercepting elements revealed that the performance
of different thickness of planks were similar. Allsop (1995) suggested that screen porosity from 5 to
15% gives relatively low levels of wave transmission and the same accompanied by higher reflections.
Bergmann and Oumeraci (1998, 1999) investigated the hydraulic performance of perforated structures
with square shaped wave intercepting elements and an analytical approach was also suggested for
finding out the transmission coefficient of single screen breakwaters by considering the porosity of the
wall. Balaji and Sundar (2004) have reported that though the slotted wave screens with rough edged
elements (square, rectangular or triangular shapes) offer low transmission coefficient, the reflection
coefficient is high compared to the circular elements. A review of past literature reveals that the wave
reflection and transmission characteristics of a partially submerged slotted screen breakwater with

1
Mr., Research Scholar, Dept. of Ocean Engg., IIT Madras, Chennai, India.sc_krishna@yahoo.co.in
2
Dr., Associate Professor, Dept. of Ocean Engg., IIT Madras, Chennai, India.sasraj@iitm.ac.in
3
Dr.-Ing.E.h.Dr., Professor, Dept. of Ocean Engg., IIT Madras, Chennai, India.vsundar@iitm.ac.in

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 COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE
Paper No: 024

horizontal wave intercepting elements are scanty. In the present study, the performance
characteristics of horizontal slotted screen breakwaters formed with horizontally spaced circular wave
intercepting elements in finite water depths have been considered for experimental investigations.
Experimental studies were also extended to assess the effect of chamber on the hydrodynamic
characteristics and the reduction in pressure on the vertical impermeable wall.

2. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
Test facility
The experimental study was carried out in a 72.5m long, 2m wide and 2.7m deep wave flume in the
Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India. The hydraulic wave
maker installed at one end of the flume could be operated in both hinged and piston mode to generate
waves in deep and shallow water depths, respectively. An artificial beach with combination of
parabolic perforated steel sheet and rubble mound is provided at the other end of the flume to absorb
the generated waves. The piston mode of operation was selected for the present study to generate
both regular and random waves. All the inputs such as wave height, wave period were given to the
wave maker through a personal computer that is connected to the paddle through the servo actuator
and the same computer was used to acquire the signals from the wave gauges through an amplifier.

Model setup
The slotted screen breakwater model basically consists of a series of horizontal 50mm diameter pipes
over a width of 1.98m. The height of the breakwater model was varied such that overtopping of
incident waves, on the leeward side is avoided. The porosity (P) (P = s/e, where ‘s’ and ‘e’ are the
clear and center to center spacing between the elements, respectively) of 9.1% was considered for the
investigation. The breakwater model was placed 30m from the wave maker and all the tests were
carried out in a constant water depth, d of 0.95m. A sectional view of the flume along with the position
of the model is shown in Fig. 1.
Wave maker
Wave screen model 30m from
wave maker
Wave gauges to measure the
Wave gauges to measure the reflected wave height 22m from
reflected wave height 33m from wave maker
wave maker
Absorbing beach
2.70m

0.95m

72.50m

Figure 1: A sectional view of the flume along with the position of the model

Test procedure
Three wave gauges placed in front of the model registered the composite wave elevation, which were
used for decomposing the same into incident and reflected components. The distances between the
wave gauges were obtained by considering the requirements for the three-wave probe method as per
the guidelines of Mansard and Funke (1980). In addition, one wave gauge fixed on the wave screen
model and another on the lee side of the model registered the wave elevation at the respective
locations. The dynamic pressures exerted on the individual wave screen elements were also
measured at three different locations along the depth of the screen. The pressure transducers used for
the present experiments are of inductance type with a maximum measuring range of 0.2 bar. The
wave screen models were subjected to the action of regular and random waves. In the case of regular
wave tests, wave periods (T) were varied from 1.0s to 2.5s and, wave heights (H) were varied 0.05m
to 0.25m. In the case of random wave tests, waves described by Pierson-Moskowitz spectrum,
defined by the above said range of peak periods (Tp) and significant wave heights (Hs) were adopted,
the details of which is not presented in this paper. In addition, a vertical impermeable wall was also
tested and the dynamic pressure exerted on it was measured at five different locations along its depth
which, is used as reference pressure for the comparison of the pressures exerted on the wall in the
presence of a wave screen on its sea side. The time histories of the signals from the pressure and
wave sensors were acquired simultaneously through a personal computer. The minimum length of
data acquisition record for each test was 60s at a sampling interval of 0.025sec.

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 COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE
Paper No: 024

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Single Screen Breakwater (SSB) model
From the wave dynamic pressure profile across the depth, it can be seen that the exerted energy is
maximum near the free surface and exponentially decreasing towards the sea bottom. Hence, the
wave transmission can be effectively reduced if the near surface wave profile is obstructed. This would
also reduce the cost of installation of wave screen. Hence it becomes important to examine the effect
of the depth of submergence of the screen in reducing the pressures and forces on the wall positioned
on its lee side. The reflection coefficient, kr of SSB with four different relative depth of submergences,
ds/d = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 from the present experiments for different relative wave heights, Hi/d =
0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 are projected in Fig. 2. The kr is found to vary between 0.15 and 0.4 for the range of
d/L from 0.2 to 0.6. For higher Hi/d, the kr is found to be higher. This is due to the fact, that for higher
the waves, the extent of obstruction offered by the individual elements of the screen will be higher
leading to a higher kr. Further it can be seen that the reflection decreases with a decrease in the depth
of submergence of wave screens. The kr is found to increase with an increase in d/L as a greater
portion of the energy contained in the longer waves get reflected more. The rate of increase in Kr with
respect to d/L however, is found to be almost constant for the range of d/L tested for the three Hi/d
ratio considered. Further, the rate of decrease in Kr with decrease in ds/d is found to be higher for
flatter waves (for lesser Hi/d).
The transmission coefficients, kt for SSB for four ds/d = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 are shown in Fig.3. The
transmission is found to be decreasing with an increase in d/L and Hi/d. In the above figures, the
results for the full depth of submergence of the screen are also been superposed. It is interesting to
note that a reduction in the depth of submergence by 75% (ds/d from 1.0 to 0.25) has resulted in an
increase in kt by just 15%, which is quite encouraging, which also proves the worthiness of examining
the effect of depth of submergence of the wave screen in understanding it efficiency in attenuating the
incident waves.
The pressure variation on the wave screen elements placed at various depths for a constant relative
wave height, Hi/d of 0.10 for four different relative water depths, d/L is shown in Fig.4. The pressures
on a screen element placed at an elevation are found to be increasing with an increase in the depth of
submergence of wave screen. This is due to the fact that with the increase in the depth of
submergence of wave screen, it obstructs more wave energy and resulting in piling up of wave energy
before the wave screen and induces more pressures on the elements. The reduction of pressures has
been observed with increase in d/L with the increase in the flow velocity through the slots. This also
dictates that for the required tranquility condition, if the depth of submergence is optimized, the design
of wave screen elements could also be optimized with the reduction in pressures exerted on these
elements.
Single Chamber Breakwater (SCB) model
Water surface oscillation inside the chamber
The variation of dimensionless water surface oscillation (Hc/Hi) inside the chamber with d/L for SCB
models are given in Fig. 5. The results are plotted for the relative depth of submergence (ds/d) of the
screen on the seaward of the impermeable wall, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0, respectively. The plots are
reported for three different relative wave heights (Hi/d) of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15. It is observed that the
wave elevation inside the chamber decreases with a decrease in the depth of submergence of the
screen. The oscillation is found to decrease with an increase in d/L. It is due to the penetration of
longer waves through the screen that ge reflected by the wall which creates higher amplification of
wave energy inside the chamber. It is to be reiterated here that the long period waves have the
tendency of experiencing more reflection on being intercepted by barriers which has been proved in
the present study. The results also demonstrate an extremely interesting phenomenon which is the
effectiveness of the SCB models subjected to larger waves. This can be visualized by comparing the
three plots, wherein, the results for the least Hi show that the oscillation inside the chamber for d/L less
than 0.5 is more (10 to 50% of the incident wave height) which would depend on ds/d. The above said
variations for larger Hi is seem to be very close to unity even for shallow waters, d/L < 0.5. The
probable reason for this behaviour is that the larger wave gets completely intercepted by the individual
elements of the screen thus inducing attenuation to the incoming waves and in case of smaller waves,
most of the energy tried to penetrate in between the elements, thereby, enhancing the oscillation,
which can ofcourse be limited by reducing the gap between the elements which is likely to be costly
and also susceptible to marine growth.

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 COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE
Paper No: 024

0.4 0.4

0.35 0.35

0.3 0.3

Kr 0.25 Kr 0.25

0.2 0.2

0.15 0.15
Hi/d=0.15 Hi/d=0.10
0.1 0.1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L d/L

0.4

0.35

0.3 ds/d=1.0
+ ds/d=0.75
Kr 0.25 - ds/d=0.50
< ds/d=0.25
0.2

0.15
Hi/d=0.05
0.1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L

Figure 2: The variation of Kr with d/L for different SSB models

0.8 0.8
Hi/d=0.15 Hi/d=0.10

0.7 0.7

Kt 0.6 Kt 0.6

0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L d/L

0.8
Hi/d=0.05

0.7

ds/d=1.0
Kt 0.6 + ds/d=0.75
- ds/d=0.50
< ds/d=0.25
0.5

0.4
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L

Figure 3: The variation of Kt with d/L for different SSB models

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 COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE
Paper No: 024

Hi/d=0.10
ds/d=1.0
+ ds/d=0.75
- ds/d=0.50
< ds/d=0.25
0.02 0.02

-0.02 -0.02

-0.06 -0.06

z/d -0.1 z/d -0.1

-0.14 -0.14

-0.18 -0.18
d/L=0.185 d/L=0.241
-0.22 -0.22
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
P c/Hi P c/Hi

0.02 0.02

-0.02 -0.02

-0.06 -0.06

z/d -0.1 z/d -0.1

-0.14 -0.14

-0.18 -0.18
d/L=0.31 d/L=0.396
-0.22 -0.22
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
P c/Hi P c/Hi

Figure 4: Pressure variation on the wave screen elements for different SSB

Reflection Characteristics
The variation of Kr with d/L for different SCB models are given in Fig. 6. The measured reflection from
a vertical wall alone is also superposed in the above plot. It is observed that the reflection increases
with d/L and decreases with ds/d. This is due to the increase in reflected wave energy from the vertical
impermeable wall which propagates back through the wave screen as the relative depth of
submergence of the wave screen decreases.

Dynamic Pressure
The variations of dimensionless pressure distribution along the depth of impermeable wall with and
without the seaward side wave screen are given in the Fig. 7 for four different relative water depths.
The pressure distribution decreases with an increase in the relative depth of submergence of the
screen. The reduction in the pressure on the vertical wall in the presence of wave screen is significant,
ranging between 30% and 50%. Further at the higher relative water depths, the reduction of pressure
distribution is found to be less. This is probably due to the efficiency of SCB models in attenuating
waves of shorter wave lengths.

4. SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

A detailed experimental study on the behaviour of the wave screen with circular intercepting elements
was carried out. The wave screen was tested as a breakwater and as an absorber in front of the
impermeable wall. Initially, the impermeable wall was tested for its reflection characteristics and wave
induced pressures under the regular wave condition. The results obtained for single screen
breakwater models exposed to the action of regular wave field have been compared. In addition, the
single chamber models was also tested and their performance characteristics are compared with that
of an impermeable wall. For SSB models, the rate of decrease in Kr with decrease in ds/d is found to
be higher for flatter waves (for lesser Hi/d). Further with the increase in the depth of submergence, the
wave screen is obstructing more wave energy and resulting in more pressures on the elements.

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 COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE
Paper No: 024

For SCB models, it is observed that the wave elevation inside the chamber decreases with decrease
in the depth of submergence of the screen. The pressure distribution decreases with an increase in
the relative depth of submergence of the seaward screen. Further at the higher relative wave heights,
the decrease in pressure distribution is found to be less.

1.6 1.6
Hi/d=0.15 Hi/d=0.10
1.4 1.4

1.2 1.2

Hc/Hi 1 Hc/Hi 1

0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L d/L

1.6
Hi/d=0.05
1.4 ds/d=1.0
+ ds/d=0.75
1.2 - ds/d=0.50
< ds/d=0.25
Hc/Hi 1

0.8

0.6

0.4
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L

Figure 5: Variation of dimensionless water surface oscillation (Hc/Hi) inside the chamber with
d/L for SCB models

1 1

0.8 0.8

Kr Kr
0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4
Hi/d=0.15 Hi/d=0.10

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
d/L d/L

’ VWB
0.8 ds/d=1.0
+ ds/d=0.75
Kr - ds/d=0.50
0.6
< ds/d=0.25

0.4
Hi/d=0.05

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

d/L

Figure 6: The variation of Kr with d/L for different SCB models

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 COPEDEC VII, 2008, Dubai, UAE
Paper No: 024

Hi/d=0.15
VWB
+ ds/d=1.0
- ds/d=0.75
< ds/d=0.5
? ds/d=0.25
0.05 0.05

-0.1 -0.1

z/d -0.25 z/d -0.25

-0.4 -0.4

d/L=0.185 d/L=0.241
-0.55 -0.55
0.1 0.25 0.4 0.55 0.1 0.25 0.4 0.55
P c/Hi P c/Hi

0.05 0.05

-0.1 -0.1

z/d -0.25 z/d -0.25

-0.4 -0.4

d/L=0.31 d/L=0.396
-0.55 -0.55
0.1 0.25 0.4 0.55 0.1 0.25 0.4 0.55
P c/Hi P c/Hi

Figure 7: Variations of dimensionless pressure distribution along the depth of impermeable

wall with and without the seaward side wave screen for SCB models

5. REFERENCES
ALLSOP, N.W.H. (1995). Vertical walls and breakwaters: Optimization to improve vessel safety and
wave disturbance by reducing wave reflections, Reproduced report of HR Wallingford from an invited
chapter in book Wave Forces on Inclined and Vertical Structures, ASCE, New York, pp. 1-27.
BALAJI, R. AND SUNDAR, V. (2003). Wave damping by chambered breakwaters, second
international conference on port and maritime R&D and technology, Singapore, September 10-12,
2003.
BERGMANN, H. AND OUMERACI, H. (1998). Wave pressure distribution on permeable vertical walls,
Proceedings of Coastal Engineering’98, pp. 2042-2055.
FUGAZZA, M. AND NATALE, L. (1992). Hydraulic design of perforated breakwaters, Journal of Water
ways, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, Vol.118, No.1, pp. 1-14.
GARDNER, J.D. AND TOWNEND, I.H. (1988). Slotted vertical screen breakwaters, Proceedings of
International Conference on Breakwaters’88, Eastbourne, pp. 283-297.
KRIEBEL D. (2000). “Design methods for timber wave screens”, U.S. Coast guard, project report to
U.S. Coast guard, U.S. naval academy.
MALLAYACHARI, V. AND SUNDAR, V. (1995). Standing wave pressures due to regular and random
waves on a vertical wall, Ocean Engineering Journal, Vol. 22, 8, pp. 859-879.
MANSARD, E.P.D. AND FUNKE, E.R. (1980). The measurement of incident and reflected spectra
using a least squares method, Proceedings of 17th International Conference on Coastal Engineering,
Sydney, pp. 159-174.
SAWARAGI, T. AND IWATA, K. (1978). Wave attenuation of a vertical breakwater with two air
chambers, Coastal Engineering in Japan, Vol. 21. pp. 63-74.