Performance of caisson breakwater subjected to breaking wave loads

Abstract

Centrifuge model tests were conducted to investigate the performance of caisson breakwaters subjected to breaking wave loads. A servo-controlled electric actuator was developed to apply wave loads on the caisson during centrifuge flight. The vertical and horizontal movements and tilt of the caisson breakwater were found to increase progressively with the number of load cycles and much of the movements took place within the first 2000 wave cycles. The results reveal that a minimum caisson width of 16 m is required to maintain the stability against sliding and tilting. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group.