Experimental Studies of Surface Wave Reflection by Longshore Bars and a Sloping Seawall

Laboratory experiments have been performed to investigate the effects of a seawall on resonant reflection by a fixed periodic bar system on the seabed. The experiments were conducted in a wave flume. A series of five fixed bars was placed in front of a seawall with 1:1 slope. Regular waves with wave height 0.04m and wave periods from 0.8 to 1.20 seconds were used. The tests were performed for the cases with and without the seawall. The wave surface elevations were measured at seven locations in front of the seaward and in either side the bar patch. Based on the preliminary analysis of measured wave time series, it was found that the presence of the seawall has considerable influence on the reflection characteristics of the waves in front of the bar field.© 2002 ASME