Interaction between oblique waves and arc-shaped breakwater: Wave action on the breakwater and wave transformation behind it

Abstract The hydrodynamic interaction between oblique waves and an arc-shaped breakwater and the wave field behind it. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic model was used to simulate the interaction between the oblique waves and arc-shaped breakwater. The pressure distribution and wave force in the different sections under different wave directions were measured by experiments to validate the numerical results. The pressure distribution and wave force in the arc-shaped vertical part of the breakwater along the central axis were further analysed using numerical model. The maximum positive and negative forces in each section along the central axis were compared. The results indicated that the arc curvature exerted little effect on the maximum wave force in the different sections. The wave height behind the breakwater was obviously smaller than that at the front. With the decrease in the incident angle, the influence of diffraction on the wave field gradually decreased. Under east–southeast waves, the maximum wave height behind the breakwater caused by overtopping was approximately 0.7 times the incident-wave height. In the spatial distribution of the wave period behind the breakwater, some areas with smaller periods existed, which may be caused by the overtopping flow that broke behind the breakwater.