Comparative Study on Breaking Wave Forces on Vertical Walls

Abstract

Systematic comparison between the Minikin and Goda methods for prediction of horizontal breaking‐wave force on vertical wall structures is presented. The normalized wave forces are computed using both methods and presented as functions of deep‐water‐wave steepness, wave height to water depth ratio, sea bottom slope in front of the structure, and the relative height of the rubble foundation. It is found that the empirical methods show different characteristics as far as their predictions are considered. The normalized wave force is found to increase with increasing wave steepness, wave height to water depth ratio, and relative height of the rubble foundation for the Minikin method and vice versa for Goda's. The sea bottom slope has no effect on the normalized force for the Minikin method; and steeper bottoms produce larger forces for Goda method. Furthermore, it is found that the Minikin method usually predicts higher wave forces than Goda's for vertical wall structures with no or low rubble foundations and vice versa for vertical walls with high rubble foundations.