Investigation on the Reflection Coefficient for Seawalls Protected by a Rubble Mound Structure

• Published in: Journal of marine science and engineering Vol. 9; no. 9; p. 937
• Main Authors: Pratola, Luigi, Rinaldi, Antonio, Molfetta, Matteo Gianluca, Bruno, Maria Francesca, Pasquali, Davide, Dentale, Fabio, Mossa, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Armor; Breakwaters; Coastal engineering; coastal physical models; Coastal processes; Coastal structures; Coastal zone management; Concrete; Dimensional analysis; Empirical equations; Environmental protection; Flumes; Laboratories; Mathematical analysis; Reflectance; Reflection; rubble mound breakwater; Rubblemound breakwaters; Sea walls; seawalls; wave measurement; Wave reflection
• ISSN: 2077-1312; 2077-1312
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse9090937

Sea wave reflection from coastal protection structures is one of the main issues in the coastal design process. Several empirical formulas have been proposed so far to predict reflection coefficient from rubble mound breakwaters and smooth slopes. The aim of this study is to investigate wave reflection from a rubble mound structure placed in front of a vertical concrete seawall. Several experimental tests were performed on a two-dimensional wave flume by reproducing on a rubble mound structure with a steep single primary layer armored with a novel artificial unit. A new approach for the prediction of the reflection coefficient based on dimensional analysis is also proposed, and a new empirical equation is derived. The performance of the proposed equation was compared with widespread existing formulas, and a good accuracy was found.