Pile Structures
Oral
Elizabeth Freeman
PhD Candidate
Water Research Laboratory University of New South Wales
Kristen Splinter, MSc, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Water Research Laboratory, UNSW Sydney
Floating breakwaters are often multi-tasked and may be used as public platforms for pedestrians as well as fulfilling their primary role as wave attenuators. This presentation conveys results from laboratory experiments investigating the motions (accelerations) and wave attenuation of floating breakwaters. Dynamic motion and wave data of the breakwaters are analysed to ascertain the level of attenuation and acceleration. A set of safe motion limits (acceleration (g)) is proposed based on what a pedestrian perceives as safe/comfortable. We reveal better attenuation resulted in accelerations more than six times greater than the recommended safe motion limits.