Wave disturbance behind low-crested structures: Diffraction and overtopping effects

In recent years the hydraulic performance of low-crested structures has been widely studied both theoretically and through experimental analyses, but only a few studies have been focused on the combined diffraction-overtopping effects on wave transmission and induced wave currents. In this paper hydraulic model tests conducted at the 3D wave basin of Delft University of Technology (Cáceres et al., 2008) were used to obtain and discuss two simple methods for predicting the wave height at the lee of a single detached breakwater of finite length and the related current regime. For the first time diffraction effects are expressly accounted for. The agreement with experimental data is encouraging. The main objective of the paper is to aid engineers in the first stage of the design process, when using a mathematical model could be unnecessarily excessive.