COMPARATIVE-STUDY ON BREAKING WAVE-FORCES ON VERTICAL WALLS

Systematic comparison between the Minikin and Goda methods for predict ion of horizontal breaking-wave force on vertical wall structures is p resented. The normalized wave forces are computed using both methods a nd presented as functions of deep-water-wave steepness, wave height to water depth ratio, sea bottom slope in front of the structure, and th e relative height of the rubble foundation. It is found that the empir ical methods show different characteristics as far as their prediction s are considered. The normalized wave force is found to increase with increasing wave steepness, wave height to water depth ratio, and relat ive height of the rubble foundation for the Minikin method and vice ve rsa for Goda's. The sea bottom slope has no effect on the normalized f orce for the Minikin method; and steeper bottoms produce larger forces for Goda method. Furthermore, it is found that the Minikin method usu ally predicts higher wave forces than Goda's for vertical wall structu res with no or low rubble foundations and vice versa for vertical wall s with high rubble foundations.