L11. Diffraction behind a gap in a breakwater

The purpose of this test is to validate the diffraction approximation in Swan. The approximation is described by Holthuijsen, Herman and Booij (2003).
The results are compared with observations reported by Yu et al.(2000). Two tests have been used, both with a gap width equal to 4 times the wave length (2 m); one test was carried out with regular incoming waves, the other with unidirectional irregular waves.

A domain with horizontal bottom is considered.
In order to simulate the unidirectional incoming waves at the Southern boundary an incident wave field is assumed with narrow directional distribution ([ms]=500) and a Jonswap spectrum over frequencies with peak period of 1.2 s. The wave field propagates in N direction.

7 cases are considered:

L11a

Swan without diffraction

L11b

Swan with standard diffration

L11c

diffraction with enhanced smoothing

L11d

diffraction with strong smoothing

L11e

standard diffraction on a grid, rotated over i90 degrees, in order to test the correct implementation

L11f

standard diffraction on a grid, with singularity approximation

L11g

as L11f, but with simplified representation of the breakwater

Graphs are shown for cases a, b and c, along lines parallel to the breakwater at various distances behind the breakwater: 0 m (i.e. in the gap), 3 m, 6 m and 9 m.

L.H. Holthuijsen, A. Herman, N. Booij (2003)

Phase-decoupled refraction-diffraction in a spectral wave model, Coastal Engineering, vol.49, PP.291-305

Yu, Y.-X., S.-X., Li, Y.S., Onyx, Wai, W.H. (2000)

Refraction and diffraction of random waves through breakwater, Ocean Engng, vol. 27, pp.489-509