Hydrodynamic performance of a submerged horizontal porous wave barrier

The hydrodynamic performance of a submerged horizontal porous wave barrier has been investigated using the analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches in regular waves. First, the analytical model is formulated under the assumption of potential flow and is solved using the matched eigenfunction expansion method, where the presence of porous barrier is recognized by the equivalent linearized quadratic energy dissipation model. Second, the numerical simulations based on a 3D Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations with standard low-Re k-epsilon turbulent closure and volume of fluid approach are accomplished. Analytical and numerical results are compared with the experimental results conducted in a 2D wave tank. The estimation of reflection, transmission, energy loss coefficients, and vertical force on the submerged horizontal barrier is shown to be in satisfactory agreement. From the systematic parametric study, it is found that there exists an optimal porosity and submergence depth near P = 0.1, d/h = 0.05 - 0.1 within the range of 2.0 < kh < 8.0. The analytical formulations using quadratic energy dissipation model predicts well the physical flow behavior up to H/lambda = 0.02. The present methodology imparts a reciprocative approach by using analytical and numerical models for a better design of the submerged horizontal porous wave barrier.