FLOATING BREAKWATERS--A WAVE TANK STUDY

As examples of the direct application of a floating breakwater, the author cities the desired protection of certain offshore operations, such as pipeline laying and tanker loading and unloading. This paper describes a laboratory study undertaken to establish which parameters affecting a breakwaters' performance are most important. Results show that wave reduction was not greatly affected by wave height. With regard to the breakwater itself, a square cross-section gives slightly better wave reduction than a triangular, circular, or trapeziodal one. Permeable and impermeable coverings give essentially the same results. Concentrating the ballast low in the profile and using two-thirds to full submergence yielded best results. As indicated by the author, probably one of the most serious and least understood problems is that of the mooring of breakwaters. The result of this study indicates that mooring line forces can be reduced by using horizontal lines and by the proper choice of attachment point.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract prepared by Texas A&M University. Prepared for 1973 offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, April 30-May 2, 1973.
• Corporate Authors:

  Offshore Technology Conference

  6200 North Central Expressway
  Dallas, TX  United States  45206
• Authors:
  • Sutko, A A
• Conference:
  • Abstract prepared by Texas A&M University. Prepared for 1973 Offshore Technology Conference.
  • Location: Houston Texas
  • Date: 1973-4-30 to 1973-5-2
• Publication Date: 1973-4

Media Info

• Pagination: p. II13-20
• Serial:
  • Volume: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Breakwaters; Damping (Physics); Floating breakwaters
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050941
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Maritime Research Center, Galveston
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 15 1974 12:00AM