Hydraulic and Structural Assessment of a Rubble-Mound Breakwater with a Hybrid Wave Energy Converter

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021-08-25

Authors

Daniel Clemente (Author) Other; Tomás Calheiros Cabral (Author) FEUP; Paulo Rosa Santos (Author) FEUP; Francisco Taveira Pinto (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Vol. 8

Pages: 1-922

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences

FOS: Engineering and technology

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-H2C

DOI: 10.3390/jmse9090922

Abstract (EN): Seaports' breakwaters serve as important infrastructures capable of sheltering ships, facilities, and harbour personnel from severe wave climate. Given their exposure to ocean waves and port authorities' increasing awareness towards sustainability, it is important to develop and assess wave energy conversion technologies suitable of being integrated into seaport breakwaters. To fulfil this goal whilst ensuring adequate sheltering conditions, this paper describes the performance and stability analysis of the armour layer and toe berm of a 1/50 geometric scale model of the north breakwater extension project, intended for the Port of Leixoes, with an integrated hybrid wave energy converter. This novel hybrid concept combines an oscillating water column and an overtopping device. The breakwater was also studied without the hybrid wave energy device as to enable a thorough comparison between both solutions regarding structural stability, safety, and overtopping performance. The results point towards a considerable reduction in the overtopping volumes through the integration of the hybrid technology by an average value of 50%, while the stability analysis suggests that the toe berm of the breakwater is not significantly affected by the hybrid device, leading to acceptable safety levels. Even so, some block displacements were observed, and the attained stability numbers were slightly above the recommended thresholds from the literature. It is also shown that traditional damage assessment parameters should be applied with care when non-conventional structures are analysed, such as rubble-mound breakwaters with integrated wave energy converters.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17