Influence of Water-Level Variations on Wave Transmission through Flushing Culverts Positioned in a Breakwater Body

Abstract

An important aspect that must be considered in harbor design and construction is the water quality within the basin, which depends on the water exchange between the harbor and surrounding water body. Of the most internationally distinguished methods for this purpose (mechanical shakers, overflows, pumps, permeable breakwaters), the most cost-effective method is to use flushing culverts through the body of the breakwater structure. This paper presents physical model results of a flushing culvert functioning with variations of the flushing culvert diameter (D), length (Lc), and vertical position in relation to the water surface level (W). A physical model (rubble mound breakwater) was placed in the wave channel with a piston-type wave generator, where spectral waves were generated. During the measurements, three different hydraulic processes of the wave transmission were observed, depending on the position of the water surface. The research results are presented as transmission coefficients (Kt).