Wave Loadings Acting on an Innovative Breakwater for Energy Production

Vicinanza, D., Ciardulli, F., Buccino, M., Calabrese, M. and Kofoed, J.P., 2011. Wave loadings acting on an innovative breakwater for energy production. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal Symposium), ��� – ���. Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208 The paper reports on 2 D small scale experiments conducted to investigate wave loadings acting on a pilot project of device for the conversion of wave energy into electricity. The conversion concept is based on the overtopping principle and the structure is worldwide known with the acronym SSG. The hydraulic model tests have been carried out at the LInC laboratory of the University of Naples Federico II using random waves. Results indicate wave overtopping is able to cause a sudden inversion of vertical force under wave crest, so that it is alternatively upward and downward directed over a short time interval. It is also shown that two calculation methods widely employed in the Japanese design practice of vertical face breakwaters, namely Goda (1975) and Hiroi (1919), could be used to achieve safe estimates of the hydrodynamic loadings