Breaking wave impact loads on vertical faces

This paper discusses wave loadings on vertical and composite walls, and related maritime / coastal structures. It presents new data on the magnitudes and probabilities of pulsating and impact loads from hydraulic model studies on a wide range of wall configurations, and compares the results with present prediction methods. Extensive model tests measured wave loads using realistic random wave conditions, without artificially forcing wave breaking or taking an extreme response from repeated regular waves. Results presented here identify the parameter regions within which impact or pUlsating loads may occur, and give example distributions of pressures. Results of these studies are intended to be used by engineers analysing the stability of vertical or composite walls in deep water, in harbours, near the coast or along the shoreline. Prediction methods and the test results discussed here may be used to estimate wave loadings on a variety of structures, existing or in design.