NUMERICAL MODELLING OF WAVE DISTURBANCE IN A HARBOUR IN THE PRESENCE OF A FLOATING BREAKWATER

Floating Breakwaters (FB or Floating Wave Attenuator) find application in coastal areas characterized by limited wave height and short period, such as lakes, sheltered bays, or within ports. Nowadays, it is possible to construct precast reinforced concrete structures of significant size and displacement, which, when connected in series and/or in parallel, form a robust, and durable floating barrier. These structures generally have high costs, and their use should therefore be carefully evaluated in relation to their benefits (mainly environmental). Assessing wave disturbance inside a port or marina is one of the fundamental steps that designers undertake when defining the port layout. For this purpose, commercial numerical models are generally applied; physical model tests in 3D basins are rare, as they usually require time and costs that are not compatible with design activities.