Wave basin experiments on floating breakwaters with different layouts

The general aim of this paper is to examine the effect of floating breakwater layouts on wave transmission, loads along moorings and connectors, under oblique waves. The specific contribution of this work is to provide novel and accurate experimental results for a configuration that is widely adopted in existing prototypes. Tests were carried out in the wave basin (3.8 m x 20.6 m x 0.8 m) of the Maritime Laboratory of the University of Padova, Italy. Two layouts, characterised by different degrees of complexity (I- and J-shaped), and three obliquities (0 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees) were examined. With increased wave obliquity, the floating breakwater becomes more efficient thanks to the decrease of wave transmission and of the forces along moorings and connectors. Under perpendicular waves, with increasing layout complexity, no significant effect on wave transmission is observed, whereas mooring and intermodule connector forces significantly change, particularly in the case of frequent overtopping.