Vertical Wave Barriers: Wave Transmission and Wave Forces

Wave interaction with a vertical slotted wave barrier, also called a wave screen or slit-type breakwater, is considered. A theoretical analysis is presented based on application of the continuity, momentum, and energy equations to flow through the slots in the breakwater, accounting for head losses associated with flow constriction and re-expansion. As a result, relatively simple expressions are found for the wave transmission coefficient and for the wave forces on the wall. These are then verified by laboratory experiments with regular waves.