Experimental Study Effects of Irregular Wave Parameters on Berm Recession of deformed profile Berm Breakwaters

Berm breakwater is a type of reshaping rubble mound breakwaters that its seaside profile can be reshaped under severe wave attack. The final berm recession is an important criterion to check the berm width as well as the stability of these breakwaters. Berm recession due to a design wave is usually determined by means of empirical equations derived from experiments. Initial sections with no recession have been assumed in most of these experiments. However, in a real condition, a berm breakwater may experience many of waves before experiencing a design wave condition. The wave history and possible recessions before a stormy condition may affect the final reshaped profile. This subject is therefore investigated in the present study by means of performing 2D tests in the hydraulics laboratory at Tarbiat Modares University. In addition, the effects of wave parameters on the hydrodynamic response of berm breakwaters are evaluated performing 30 tests in the wave flume. In all experiments, irregular waves have been generated based on JONSWAP spectrum wave with γ factor of 3.3 and the median stone diameter and gradation are selected as 2 cm & 1.6 respectively. Based on the measurements, the berm recession (in both statically and dynamically stable berm breakwaters) increases by increasing the wave height and wave period. In addition, once the design wave height rises and exceeds a threshold level, the impact of previous waves on the final reshaped profile will be decreased.