Session: 02-09-01 Extreme Loading and Responses 1

Paper Number: 79148

79148 - Wave Impact Pressures on U-OWC Breakwater 

Wave loads on vertical breakwaters or seawalls may conveniently be divided between slowly acting loads, having durations between approximately 0.2 and 0.5 times a wave period, generally termed “pulsating” (slightly breaking waves and broken waes) or “quasi-static” loads, and short duration high intensity loads termed “impulsive” or “impact” loads, often having durations closer to 1/100 of the wave period or shorter. Generic research under European projects MCS and PROVERBS, (see Oumeraci et al., 2001) has led to much greater clarity on prediction, derivation and use of these different load types.

Based on this type of approach, an intensive experimental analysis on wave impact pressures and wave loads acting on a small-scale model of a breakwater embodying a U-shaped OWC for the wave energy exploitation, have been carried out.

A small-scale experiment on a U-OWC breakwater was carried out at NOEL lab. The experimental U-OWC caisson is 3.8 m long with a pneumatic chamber which can be reduced through mobile internal walls. The vertical duct of the REWEC3 is 0.5 m wide, while the pneumatic chamber is 1 m wide. The top of the absorption chamber is provided with a tube, where a turbine of Wells type is lodged. The REWEC3 plant was realized through a Project  funded by the Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico in the framework of the Programme "Ricerca di Sistema Elettrico".

The U-OWC was exposed to natural sea waves with the peculiarity of being wind-generated waves in a Froude similarity with either Mediterranean or Ocean waves. The paper aims at disseminating the maximum wave loads acting on the structure during a certain sea state, considering the classification of the PROVERBS project, of quasi-static” loads and of “impulsive” or “impact” loads.

Presenting Author: Alessandra Romolo Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL) - University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria - ITALY

Authors:

Alessandra Romolo Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL) - University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria - ITALY
Bruna Timpano Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL), University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria
Valentina Laface Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL), University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria
Vincenzo Fiamma Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL), University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria
Felice Arena Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL), University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria