Analysis of performance of hinged floating breakwaters

In this paper, the overall performance of an array of floating breakwaters connected by hinges is investigated under the action of monochromatic linear waves in the frequency domain. The numerical analysis of the array is based on a three-dimensional hydrodynamic formulation of the floating body. The vertical translations of the array of floating breakwaters due to the hinge vertical translations are considered in the hydrodynamic analysis with the implementation of appropriate generalized modes. General formulae of the hydrostatic stiffness and mass coefficients corresponding to the generalized modes are derived. The effect of the configuration of the array of floating breakwaters on its response and effectiveness is investigated through a rigorous parametric study for several wave headings. Moreover, the performance of the various configurations of hinged floating breakwaters examined is compared with the performance of a single floating breakwater with no hinges. It is found that the configuration of the array of floating breakwaters connected with hinges strongly affects the response and the effectiveness of the array. Finally, the configuration exhibiting the highest effectiveness varies, depending upon the wave frequency ranges examined. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.