Proceedings of The Thirteenth (2003) International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, May 25 –30, 2003

Copyright © 2003 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers
ISBN 1 –880653 -60 –5 (Set); ISSN 1098 –6189 (Set)

Reduction of Wave Overtopping and Water Spray with Using Flaring Shaped Seawall
Yuji Kamikubo1, Keisuke Murakami2, Isao Irie 3, Yasuto Kataoka4, Naoto Takehana4
1
Research Associate, Dept. of Civil Eng., Yatsushiro National College of Technology,
Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, JAPAN
2
Associate professor, Dept. of Civil Eng., Miyazaki Univ., Miyazaki, JAPAN
3
Professor, Dept. of Civil Eng. Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka, JAPAN
4
Structural Eng, Kobe Steel LTD, Kobe, Hyogo, JAPAN

ABSTRACT
Authors proposed a non-wave overtopping type seawall (refer as
Flaring Shaped Seawall : FSS) with a deep circular cross section.
Through a series of studies, they had already confirmed that the FSS
satisfies a non-wave overtopping condition with an extremely lower
crown height in comparison with a conventional wave absorbing
upright seawall. In this study, the reduction effects of both wave
overtopping and water spray by the FSS were investigated through
hydraulic experiments. And then, in order to reduce the water spray on
the FSS effectively, we proposed a vertical wall attached at the tip of
the FSS as a technical device. It was confirmed that the vertical wall
effectively reduces the spray on the FSS, and the quantity of spray
becomes smaller than that on the upright seawall.
KEY WORDS: Non-wave overtopping type seawall; Wave
overtopping; Water spray transportation; Vertical wall;
fishing and keeping a good view can be pointed out. To satisfy these
needs, we assume that allowing no wave overtopping with low crest
elevation is an indispensable condition. Various types of seawalls have
been proposed for the purpose of the reduction of the wave overtopping
(Inoue1), 1974; Takata2), 1979; Kono3), 1993). However, those could
not thoroughly release the rear area from danger of wave overtopping.
In order to facilitate a safe and excellent use of coastal space for
various purposes, authors have proposed a non-wave overtopping type
seawall with deep circular cross section (referred to as Flaring Shaped
Seawall (FSS), Fig. 1). The seawall satisfies a non-wave overtopping
condition with an extremely lower crown height in comparison with
conventional upright seawall (Kamikubo4), 2000). Fig. 2 shows the
sketch of the wave motion. The direction of wave motion in front of the
FSS is opposite to an upright seawall and no wave overtopping is
expected any more. This makes it possible to open the top of seawall
for useful space as well as to back a coastal defense line.

INTRODUCTION In addition to the check of the wave overtopping, reduction of the water
spray transportation behind the seawall is also necessary in order to
There are social needs to make safe and excellent use of coastal space.
For example, opening the space on the top of seawall for promenade,

Fig. 2 The situation of wave acting seawalls

Fig. 1 Conceptual sketch of the FSS

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facilitate a safe and excellent use of coastal space. In this study, we
proposed a low vertical wall attaching on the tip of the FSS as a
technical device to reduce transportation of water spray, and the effects
of this technical device on reduction of water spray were investigated
through hydraulic experiments. Through the investigations, we found
that the device also have an efficiency on reducing quantity of wave
overtopping. This means that the device could be an effective method
as a countermeasure, when the seawall is needed to higher its crown
height caused by its subsidence or any other reasons. From this
viewpoint, we also investigated the effects of this device on reduction
of wave overtopping in this study.
BASIC FUNCTION OF THE FSS
A favorable cross section of the FSS against severe wave action was
firstly found out through numerical simulations and wave tank
experiments. The characteristics of fluid motions and hydraulic
pressures in front of the seawall were investigated numerically for
various types of cross section, and the cross section with a footing as
well as a continuous radius of curvature was finally employed. The
continuous radius change of curvature brought a smooth fluid motion
along the curved face and pressure concentration on the seawall
occurred in the same extent as upright seawall.
Reduction of Critical Crest Elevation
To evaluate the checking effect of the wave overtopping of the FSS, the
critical crest elevation of the FSS defined as the minimum crest
elevation on which the wave overtopping does not occur at all, was
investigated through wave tank experiments. Four types of seawall
(shown in Fig. 3) with the same seawall height B=22.5cm and different
cross section were tested. In Fig. 3, (a) is the FSS, (b) is the upright
seawall, (c) has the section which is up side down of the section of the
FSS and (d) has half round section. Regular wave with the incident
hc (a) FSS
Continuous radius of curvature
B <Curvature>
h
wave steepness of H0/L0=0.036 was used in this experiment. The
incident wave height of H0 was changed in the range from 6cm to 14cm.
With changing the water depth h by changing the location of the
seawall on the slope, the critical crest elevation of hc was measured.
The critical crest elevation was obtained by observing whether the
wave overtopping occurs or not.
Figure. 4 shows the result of experiments of critical crest elevation hc /
H0. In this figure, each symbol shows the results of the seawall (a), (b),
(c) and (d) as illustrated in Fig. 3. The results obviously show that the
critical crest elevation hc of the seawalls with curved section can be
effectively reduced lower than the upright seawall. And then, the
changes of elevation hc / H0 against h / H0 is very small compared with
upright seawall.
Vertical Wave Forces
Three types of seawall (shown in Fig. 3) with the same seawall height
B=22.5cm and different cross section were tested. Regular wave was
used in this experiment. The incident wave steepness of H0/L0=0.036
was used in this experiment, and the incident wave height of H0 was
changed in the range from 6cm to 14cm. The water depth in front of the
seawall was set h=15cm. The maximum wave pressure distributions on
the seawall were measured by the pressure gauges of 8mm in diameter
attached on the face of the seawall. The output signals were recorded in
the digital data recorder with 1000Hz sampling frequency.
The vertical wave forces Fz, acting on the structural body as the whole
are shown in the Fig. 5. The symbols show the result of the seawall (a),
(c) and (d). The forces are different depending on the shape of
curvature of structures and the FSS (a) has resulted in lowest force.
This difference is seen more evident as the relative water depth
decreases. Lower vertical force increases the stability of the seawall,
3.5
FSS(a)
3
Upright seawall(b)
2.5 Seawall(c)
Seawall(d)
hc/H0

Upper part : small 2

Lower part : big 1.5

Upright Seawall 1
(b) Conventional vertical seawall 0.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
h/H0
Fig. 4 Critical crest elevation
Cross section which is up side
(c) down of the section of FSS 4 FSS(a) h=15.0cm B=22.5cm
Continuous radius of curvature Seawall(c) H0/L0=0.036
<Curvature> 3 Seawall(d)
H0
Upper part : big
Fz/ρgH0B

Fz
Lower part : small 2 B
h
(d) Half round cross section 1
Continuous radius of curvature
<Curvature> 0
Upper part : constant
Lower part : constant 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6
h/H0
Fig. 3 Models of the seawalls
Fig. 5 Vertical wave forces

672
 0.01 and thus the FSS is the most optimum cross section with respect to
hc/H0=1.0 hc/H0 stability.
1.5 =1.0
0.001 2.0 Characteristics of Wave Overtopping Rate
3
q/ 2g(H 0)

1.5 The quantity of wave overtopping on the FSS was measured

0.0001 FSS Slope:1/10 experimentally with using a two-dimensional wave tank. The offshore
Upright seawallH0/L0=0.012 wave steepness is H0/L0=0.036 and 0.012, and the sea bottom slope is
-5 2.0 1/10 and 1/30, respectively.
10 hc
h Fig. 6 shows a diagram of wave overtopping of the FSS and the upright
-6
seawall. A diagram of wave overtopping of the upright seawall was
10
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 proposed by Goda5) (1985). The vertical axis shows non-dimensional
h/H0 wave overtopping rate. As shown in the diagram, the quantity of wave
overtopping of the FSS in the case of H0/L0=0.012 becomes larger than
0.01 the case of H0/L0=0.036 under the same crown height. But it is obvious
hc/H0=1.0 that the overtopping rate of the FSS is much smaller than that of the
conventional seawall under the same crown height. These results mean
0.001 that the crown height of the FSS becomes lower than that of the
1.5
3
q/ 2g(H 0)

conventional wave absorbing upright seawall under the same allowable

2.0 overtopping quantity.
0.0001
hc/H0=1.0 COUNTERMEASURE IN ORDER TO REDUCE WATER
-5
SPRAY AND WAVE OVERTOPPING
10 1.5
Slope:1/10 In order to reduce the water spray on the FSS effectively, we proposed
2.0
-6 H0/L0=0.036 a vertical wall attached at the tip of the FSS as a technical device
10
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 (shown in Fig. 7). This low vertical wall is introduced to check majority
h/H0 of the water spray transported on the seawall. Through the
investigations, we found that the device also have an efficiency on
0.01 reducing quantity of wave overtopping. In this section, the efficiencies
hc/H0=1.0 hc/H0 of the proposed technical device on reducing water spray and wave
=1.0 overtopping are discussed.
0.001 2.0
3

EFFECT OF TECHNICAL DEVICE FOR CHECKING WAVE

q/ 2g(H 0)

1.5 1.5
OVERTOPPING
0.0001

2.0 Experimental Setup

-5
10 The critical crest elevation of the FSS was investigated through wave
Slope:1/30 tank experiments. The experiments were conducted in a two-
-6
H0/L0=0.012
10
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 Vertical
h/H0
wall hw
hw
0.01 H0 hc
0.001
hc/H0=1.0 B
h
3

1.5
q/ 2g(H 0)

0.0001 hc/H0=1.0

10
-5 Fig. 7 Models of the seawalls with low vertical Wall
1.5 Slope:1/30
hw
-6
H0/L0=0.036 Wave hc Seawall
10
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 generator h 1.0m
h/H0 h0=0.35m slope 1/20
20.0m
Fig. 6 Diagram of wave overtopping Fig. 8 Schematic of wave tank

673
dimensional wave tank (shown in Fig. 8) of 20m in length, 1.0m in
height and 0.5m in width. The water depth h0 was set as 35cm and an
impermeable slope of 1/20 was installed at the end of the wave tank.
The FSS and upright seawall of the same crest height B=22.5cm
(shown in Fig. 7) were tested. The height of a vertical wall hw attached
at the tip of seawall was 2.5cm and 5.0cm. These heights of the vertical
wall are enough low to keep a good view at the top of the seawall and
the vertical wall can be attached easily for practical application.
Regular wave with the incident wave steepness of H0/L0=0.036 was
used in this experiment. The incident wave height of H0 was changed in
the range from 4.0cm to 12.0cm. With changing the water depth h by
changing the location of the seawall on the slope, the critical crest
elevation of hc under those incident wave conditions was measured. The
“hc” was taken vertically downward from the top of the seawall to
water surface. The critical crest elevation was obtained by observing
whether the wave overtopping occurs or not.
Effect of Technical Device
Figure. 9 shows the results of experiment of critical crest elevation hc.
The symbols show the results of the FSS for hw=0.0cm, 2.5cm, 5.0cm
and the upright seawall for hw=0.0cm, 2.5cm, 5.0cm. In the case of
small incident waves, the differences of the FSS and the upright seawall
are relatively small. In the case of large incident waves, the differences
can be clearly observed. The FSS effectively checks the wave
overtopping than the upright seawall. As the height of vertical wall
increases, the critical crest elevation decreases. However, checking
effect of the vertical wall is due to the height of vertical wall, the FSS
and the upright seawall is similar trend about differences of the vertical
wall.
EFFECT OF TECHNICAL DEVICE FOR REDUCING
WATER SPRAY TRANSPORTATION
Experimental Setup
The quantity of the water spray transportation behind the seawalls with
a low vertical wall was measured experimentally. The experiments
were conducted in a two-dimensional wave tank as shown in Fig. 10
with a wind tunnel of 20m in length, 1.0m in height and 0.5m in width.
The water depth h0 was set as 50cm and an impermeable slope of 1/20
2.5
FSS hw=0.0cm
2 FSS hw=2.5cm
FSS hw=5.0cm
Upright Seawall hw=0.0cm
1.5 Upright Seawall hw=2.5cm
hc/H0
Upright Seawall hw=5.0cm
1 B=22.5cm
H0/L0=0.036
0.5
0 Wave
generator
-0.5
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
h/H0
Fig. 9 Critical crest elevation (with setting the vertical wall)
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was installed at the end of the wave tank. The FSS and upright seawall
of the same crest height B=22.5cm (shown in Fig. 7) were tested.
The vertical wall was attached at the tip of the seawalls. Two different
heights of hw =2.5cm and 5.0cm were tested in this study. In this
experiment, generated wave by blown wind is used. The wind was
blown into the tank by opening a part of the tank ceiling, and the
average wind velocity U0 is set as U0=8.0m/s. According to Froude
similitude, wind velocity is fast. However, it is necessary to generate
the water spray. The water depth at seawall was h=10.0cm and 15.0cm.
The water spray behind the seawall was measured by using exposed
cotton materials mounted in the cylindrical containers (Hasida6), 1996;
Matsunaga7), 1996), and the rate of water spray q(g/cm2.s) was obtained.
The water spray was measured at three points of horizontal direction
(x=0.0m, 1.0m, 2.0m and 3.0m) and five points of vertical direction
(z=0cm, 10cm, 20cm, 30cm and 40cm). The “x” is defined as the
distance of horizontal landward direction from the tip of the seawall,
and the “z” is defined as the distance of vertical upward direction from
the top of the seawall.
The water spray is defined as the transported water spray blowing by
wind without the mass of the wave overtopping. However, the water
spray was measured including some part of wave overtopping at the tip
of the seawalls (x=0.0m, z=0cm), especially in the case of the upright
seawall.
Effect of Technical Device
Figure. 11 shows the quantity of spray transported behind the seawall at
x=0.0m (the seaward edge of the seawall), x=1.0m, x=2.0m and x=3.0m
in the case of h=15.0cm. Figure. 12 shows the quantity of spray
transported behind the in the case of h=10.0cm. The symbols show the
results of the FSS for hw=0.0cm, 2.5cm, 5.0cm and the upright seawall
for hw=0.0cm, 2.5cm, 5.0cm. The water will run up along the surface
of seawalls and spray is easily generated at the tip of the seawall.
Therefore, the “z” increases, the quantity of spray decreases. Both the
FSS and the upright seawall show significant decrease of the quantity
of spray with the increase of the vertical wall height hw. The quantity
of spray of the FSS is much less than that of upright seawall at the same
hw. And then, the reduction rate on the FSS seems smaller than that on
the vertical seawall. Especially, by setting the vertical wall on the FSS,
the quantity of spray decreases extremely than setting no vertical wall
(hw=0.0). The difference of the quantity of spray between the FSS and
the upright seawall becomes large near the tip of the seawall, and the
difference tends to small with increase of distance from the tip.
The vertical distributions of the spray and the changes of them are
similar between Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, but the quantity of spray shown in
Fig. 12 is less than that in Fig. 11.
U0=8.0m/s Cylindrical containers
1.0m 1.0m 1.0m
Seawall 1.0m
h0=0.50m h
slope 1/20
20.0m
Fig. 10 Schematic of wave tank with wind tunnel
 z
z
hw x
H0 hw x
H0
B
h B
h

Fig. 11 Quantity of spray (h=15.0cm) Fig. 12 Quantity of spray (h=10.0cm)

675
Wave Motion in Front of the FSS (a)
Figure. 13 shows the photographs of the wave motion just when the
wave hits the seawall. The figures of (a), (b), (c) correspond to the FSS,
upright seawall, and the FSS attaching a low vertical wall (hw =2.5cm).
It is obvious that the upright seawall generates the water spray upward
and the wind transports it landward. On the other hand, the FSS (a)
reverses mass of spray seaward and a portion of the spray was
transported landward by wind. Besides, in the case of setting the
vertical wall on the FSS as (c), wave and water spray was checked
effectively than setting no vertical wall as (a).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we proposed a low vertical wall attaching on the tip of the
FSS as a technical device to reduce transportation of water spray and
wave overtopping. The efficiency of the device for those quantities was
investigated through hydraulic experiments.

Following results were obtained in this study.

(1) The FSS effectively checks the wave overtopping than the upright
(b)
seawall. As the height of vertical wall increases, the critical crest
elevation decreases. However, checking effect of the vertical wall is
due to the height of vertical wall, the FSS and the upright seawall is
similar trend about differences of the vertical wall.

(2) It was confirmed that the vertical wall, whose height was less than
20% of the seawall crest height, effectively reduces the spray on the
FSS, and the quantity of spray becomes smaller than that on the upright
seawall.

(3) By setting the vertical wall on the FSS, the quantity of spray
transported behind the FSS can be extremely decreased. This effect is
obviously observed near the tip of the seawall as the effect tends to
small with increase of the distance from the tip.

REFERENCES

Goda, Y (1985). "Random seas and design of maritime

structures", University of Tokyo Press
Hasida, M, Matsunaga, N, and Irie, I (1996). "Landward transport of
sparay generated from a absorbing sea wall ", Proc. of 25th ICCE (c)
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slope", Proc. 21th Conf. On Coastal Eng. In Japan, pp.417-421, 1974.
Itakata, A, Yoshida, Y, and Fujikawa, H (1979). "Relationships of
sectional forms of seawall and wave overtopping", Proc. 26th Conf.
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overtopping rate between seawalls with various kind of cross", Proc.
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Matsunaga, N, Hasida, M, and Kawakami, H (1996). "Wind-induced
waves and currents in a nearshore zone", Proc. of 25th ICCE
Murakami, K, Irie, I, and Kamikubo, Y (1996). "Experiments on a non-
wave overtopping type seawall", Proc. of 25th ICCE, pp1840-1851

Fig. 13 States of wave overtopping and water spray

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