An Experimental Study of Flexible Floating Breakwaters

Abstract

Earlier studies had indicated that moored flexible bags positioned slightly below the water surface and filled with a liquid or a gas could attenuate the height of gravity water waves. The studies reported herein describe large and small scale laboratory tests evaluating the attenuation effects and mooring forces for various bag configurations. A breakwater composed of a moored row of lean, floating cylindrical bags filled with water provided excellent wave attenuation with moderate mooring forces. This type of breakwater appeared suitable for practical development of temporary wave protection works. Submerged bags filled with air also provide good attenuation action but involved a substantial structural system for mooring.