Pressures of Partial Standing Waves

The effect of bottom slope, the base-rubble mounds of composite-type breakwaters, wave overtopping, and strong winds on the intensity and vertical distribution of pressures exerted on vertical walls by partial standing waves are presented. The partial or imperfect standing waves were generated in front of vertical walls located on the bottom of 1/20 and 1/100 slopes as well as on low base-rubble mounds, always accompanied by overtopping of waves. The results of the experiments show: (1) The overtopping of waves reduced the pressures exerted on the vertical walls by the partial standing waves; (2) strong winds blowing over waves had slight or no effect on the pressures exerted on the vertical walls; and (3) when the water depth in front of the vertical walls was equal to or larger than approximately twice the height of the incoming wave, the bottom slopes of flatter than 1/20 had no effect on the pressures on the vertical walls, and the low rubble mounds of composite-type breakwaters also had no effect on the pressures if the water depths of the vertical walls were larger than approximately 1.70 times the height of the incoming wave.