This research is part of the R&D&I actions being carried out in CEDEX for the public enterprise Puertos del Estado. This paper is the result of the research, which has the main objective of analize the effects of overtopping discharges over breakwaters on property, equipment, and facilities located behind the breakwater crownwall.
Two typologies of breakwaters (vertical and rubble-mound breakwater) have been analysed. The geometry of these breakwaters has been defined according to the standards used in the main Spanish harbours.
The test conditions have been defined as a combination of different periods and significant wave height, introducing the variation of the sea in some of the cases. Significant wave heights have been generated from the start of overtopping to the maximum that can be produced in the installation for each period of wave considered. Likewise, the influence of the wind has been analysed.
The tests have been carried out in three different scales (1:15, 1:37.5 and 1:60) to analyse the influence of scale effects on the phenomenon. The 1:15 scale test has been used the Large Wave and Wind Flume available in CEDEX, which is 90 m long, 3.6 m wide and varies in depth between 6 m in the generation and 4.50 m in the position of the model, capable of generating waves up to 1.60 m for regular waves and wind speeds up to 25 m/s. For the remaining scales, smaller flumes, 6.5 m and 3 m wide, were used.
The data are recorded by the instrumentation for further analysis and comparison according to the different scales and typologies of breakwaters. The survey determinates number of waves overtopping, mean overtopping discharges and overtopping wave volumes.
Besides, a measurement system has been implemented to measure the forces, both horizontal and vertical, produced on the platform behind the crown wall. The knowledge of these forces allows the study of the risks associated with the water discharges.
Wave overtopping over a breakwater may hit the superestructure behind the crown-wall, affecting operation and causing damage to superestructure elements located behind the crown-wall (property, equipments, port facilities, etc.).
Measurements of forces produced by overtopping discharges have been made for different breakwaters cross sections and wave conditions, in order to provide information for the design of those superestucture elements.
Figure 1 shows the results of one of the test of a vertical breakwater (Hs=2 m and T=6 s). The table of the figure 1 shows the overtopping and the forces produced over the platform located behind the crown wall.