Refraction and diffraction of random waves through breakwater

A physical model study of combined refraction and diffraction of waves thro ugh a breakwater gap at different incident angles was conducted. Both regul ar and random waves with narrow and broad frequency and direction spreading were studied. Besides the presence of a mild bottom slope in the lee of th e breakwater, the distribution of wave heights across the width of a naviga tion channel inside the model harbor was also simulated. In addition to con tributing to an understanding of the phenomenon of refraction and diffracti on of random waves, the relatively complete set of data obtained can serve as a benchmark for testing of numerical models. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.