Analytical modelling of solitary wave diffraction from a V-shaped breakwater

This analytical study presents the solitary wave interaction with a bottom-mounted surface-piercing V-shaped breakwater. The breakwater is impermeable, thin, and rigidly fixed on the bottom. As a key element, an imaginary closed cylinder with an arm’s length radius was introduced so that the fluid domain was divided into three subdomains by an imaginary interface, within which the solutions were described by eigenfunctions. Furthermore, by satisfying the boundary and matching conditions in the subdomains, the velocity potential at any point in the fluid domain could be determined. The numerical results obtained for the limiting cases were verified by a comparison with previous predictions for a straight breakwater. The effects of the wave incident angle, opening angle of the breakwater, and wave-effect parameter on wave loads and wave run-up were studied. Furthermore, comparison and analysis of the hydrodynamic performance of the V-shaped and arc-shaped breakwaters with a similar structure showed that they had a similar wave attenuation effect. However, the V-shaped breakwater was subject to smaller wave loads. Moreover, for solitary wave diffraction caused by the breakwater, the Airy wave model might significantly underestimate wave run-up.