Experimental investigations on wave induced dynamic pressures over slotted vertical barriers in random wave fields

Experimental investigations were carried out to assess the wave induced pressures on slotted vertical barriers. Thirty six different wave barrier configurations (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% porosities and 1 to 6 numbers of slotted walls) were tested in random wave fields of JONSWAP spectra for different combinations of significant wave heights and peak periods. It is found that on the dynamic pressure on vertical slotted wave barrier reduces progressively from the seaside to the rear side. In general, the dynamic pressure coefficient P_s/(ρgH_is/2) reduces with an increase in relative water depth, d/L_p. where P_s is the significant dynamic pressure, ρg is the weight density of water, H_is is the significant incident wave height, d is the water depth and L_p is the wave length corresponds to peak wave period. It is also found that the highest value of measured P_s/(ρgH_is/2) is about 1.5. The barrier with 3 walls and 10% porosity and for d/L_p of 0.3, the seaside wall panel experience dynamic pressure coefficient of 1.44, the first rear wall with 0.82 and the lee side porous wall with 0.58. The results can be used for the optimal design of the panels of multiple slotted vertical wave barriers.