Behavior of a Caisson Subjected to a Horizontal Breaking Wave Force
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 133, Issue 12
Abstract
In coastal waters, caissons are used as breakwaters. Under the action of breaking waves, some caissons are initiated into motion. This study is concerned with the following questions: For a caisson subjected to a breaking wave force, what are (1) the possible modes of response and (2) the conditions under which a caisson would be initiated into these modes? These questions have not been studied before. The actual response of a caisson that takes place in each mode is not addressed in this study. A caisson is modeled as a free-standing rigid body placed on a frictional base subjected to a concentrated horizontal force of short duration applied on the seaward side face of the caisson. The conditions for initiation of each mode of motion are derived using the three equations of motion of a plane rigid body. The results are given in explicit analytical forms and presented graphically. For simplicity, the effects of water surrounding the caisson are not included. Knowing the magnitude and location of the force, coefficient of friction, and aspect ratio of the body, the modes of motion of the body may be identified easily from the graphs. It is shown that under the action of a force, a body may undergo various types of motion and its behavior is quite different, depending on whether the line of action of the force is applied above or below the center of mass of the body.
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Acknowledgments
This paper is based on a report by Tung et al. (2005) for an investigation financially supported in part by the Harbor and Marine Technology Center, Institute of Transportation under the project entitled “A Study on Harbor Resonance of Hwa-Lien Harbor,” of which J. G. Lin of National Taiwan Ocean University was the principal investigator. The assistance of J. G. Lin and X. L. Zhoa of North Carolina State University in the preparation of this manuscript is greatly appreciated.
References
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Goda, Y. (1994). “Dynamic response of upright breakwaters to impulsive breaking wave forces.” Coastal Eng., 22, 135–158.
Oumeraci, H., and Kortenhaus, A. (1994). “Analysis of the dynamic response of caisson breakwaters.” Coastal Eng., 22, 159–183.
Oumeraci, H., et al. (2001). Probabilistic design tools for vertical breakwaters, A. Kortenhaus and H. Voortman, eds., Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Shenton, H. W., III. (1996). “Criteria for initiation of slide, rock, and slide-rock rigid body modes.” J. Eng. Mech., 122(7), 690–693.
Tung, C. C., Lin, J. G., and Chiu, Y. F. (2005). “Behavior of a freestanding rigid body subjected to a horizontal force.” Rep. No. HDL-003, National Taiwan Ocean Univ., Dept. of Harbor and River Engineering, Hydrodynamic Laboratory, Keeling, Taiwan.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 133 • Issue 12 • December 2007
Pages: 1302 - 1310
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 21, 2006
Accepted: Jun 1, 2007
Published online: Dec 1, 2007
Published in print: Dec 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Lambros S. Katafygiotis
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