Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

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Applied Ocean Research

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apor

Wave interaction with a submerged floating tunnel in the presence of a T

bottom mounted submerged porous breakwater
⁎
Manisha Sharmaa, R.B. Kaligatla ,a, T. Sahoob
a
Department of Mathematics and Computing, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad 826004, India
b
Department of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur 721302, India

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: A coupled model of wave interaction with a submerged floating sea-tunnel in the presence of a bottom mounted
Submerged tunnel submerged porous breakwater is proposed to study the role of porous breakwater in mitigating wave effects on
Porous breakwater tunnel. In this study, three configurations of the porous breakwater namely trapezoidal, circular and wedge
Eigenfunction expansion shapes are analyzed. The Sollitt and Cross’ model is adopted for fluid flow inside the porous medium. For
Mild-slope equation
solution, the problem is handled with eigenfunction expansion for uniform seabed whereas it is handled with
Reflection coefficient
Transmission coefficient
mild-slope equation as an approximate technique for arbitrary shape of porous breakwater. Solutions from both
Hydrodynamic forces the methods are matched at the interface boundaries under certain physical conditions. Reflection and trans-
mission coefficients, and wave forces are calculated for wave and structural parameters. This study reveals that
trapezoidal breakwater shows less transmission of waves by dissipating much wave energy and thereby wave
forces are mitigated substantially on the tunnel. Parameters are investigated for optimum wave reflection,
transmission and wave forces. When the gap between free-surface and tunnel becomes zero, considerable phase
shift is found in reflection and transmission coefficients of wave. The present study may be useful for under-
standing the performance of a porous submerged breakwater having different configurations to protect sea-
tunnel from wave action.

1. Introduction breakwaters, floating bridges and bottom-standing storage tanks etc.

The study of surface gravity wave interaction with long floating
structures of varied configurations in partially or fully submerged po-
sitions, is of immense importance in the field of ocean engineering.
Because, this study provides a lot of information for predesigning of
floating tunnel or submerged tunnel for crossing water bodies.
Submerged tunnels have been constructed in lakes and waterways to
facilitate transportation under water to link conveniently rural network
or to the underground infrastructure of developed cities. A merit of fully
submerged tunnel over partially submerged tunnel is that it allows
passing of water bodies like ships over it without any obstruction. A
number of researchers investigated theoretically the effects of water
waves on such structures by developing solutions through analytical
and numerical techniques. Their findings provide a profound knowl-
edge on water wave interaction with floating and submerged bodies in
view of wave scattering and the resulting forces on bodies.
Mei and Black [1] and Black et al. [2] studied water wave scattering
and radiation by a rectangular obstacle in two positions such as surface-
piercing and bottom-standing positions with motivation from
Taking inspiration from these studies, many researchers conducted
studies on the models involving obstacles of different shapes and dif-
ferent body motions based on their degrees of freedom by developing
various mathematical techniques. Using finite element solution, Bai [3]
analyzed scattering of oblique waves and resulting wave forces on an
infinitely long rectangular cylinder. McIver [4] studied wave resonance
between two identical floating bridges through the methods of wide-
spacing approximation and eigenfunction expansion. An investigation
for the possible motions of a floating rectangular box-type breakwater
such as roll, sway and heave motions apart from the fixed position of
breakwater, was carried out in Drimer et al. [5]. By using multi-term
Galerkin approximation, Kanoria et al. [6] illustrated water wave
scattering by thick vertical barriers of rectangular type in different lo-
cations that lead to different problems of wave scattering. One of these
problems shows application regarded with a submerged tunnel. Fol-
lowing the model of Bai [3], Abul-Azm and Gesraha [7] further ex-
plored for the surge, pitch motions and added mass. Zheng et al. [8]
developed radiated and diffracted velocity potentials for the problem
involving a rectangular buoy to study added mass, damping

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: ramana@iitism.ac.in (R.B. Kaligatla).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2020.102069
Received 11 September 2019; Received in revised form 20 January 2020; Accepted 21 January 2020
0141-1187/ © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 1. Sketch of a sea-tunnel and a submerged porous breakwater in two-dimensions.

coefficients, heaving, swaying and rolling motions. Further, the analysis problem is formulated using potential flow through porous medium of
of [8] was extended to a submerged rectangular structure parallel to a finite width based on the modeling of Sollitt and Cross [24]. The tunnel
vertical wall by means of eigenfunction expansion method and is assumed to be long and have rectangular cross section. Different
boundary element method in Zheng et al. [9]. Applying boundary ele- configurations of porous breakwater are analyzed here. Eigenfunction
ment method, Paik et al. [10] investigated dynamic response char- expansion is employed for uniform seabed region whereas the ap-
acteristics of submerged floating circular tunnel due to external en- proximate method of mild-slope equation from Silva et al. [25] is em-
vironmental wave loads. Belibassakis [11] dealt with a rectangular ployed for porous breakwater having arbitrary shape. Finally, an ex-
body floating over undulating seabed by employing coupled-mode plicit solution in terms of system of algebraic equations is derived for
theory.Kunisu [12] studied wave force on submerged floating tunnels of this problem. Reflection and transmission coefficients of waves, and
circular and elliptic cross sections with the use of boundary element wave forces on tunnel are explored for wave and structural parameters.
method. Bhattacharjee and Soares [13] illustrated the role of box-type The effectiveness of a typical porous breakwater is revealed based on its
breakwater in reducing wave forces on seawall under the assumption of outperforming in reducing wave transmission and forces on tunnel. In
step-type bottom configuration. Bautista and Medina-Rodrı́ guez [14] order for getting less wave transmission and less wave forces on tunnel,
analyzed shoaling of long water waves generated by a submerged rec- the physical parameters of this model are optimized.
tangular breakwater having wavy surfaces by means of domain per-
turbation method. Further, Medina-Rodrı́ guez et al. [15] extended the
2. Statement of Boundary Value Problem
study of [14] for the effects of steps in bottom bed. Wave scattering by a
submerged platform of rectangular cross section with and without a
We present formulation of the coupled model concerned with wave
wall was studied by Mondal and Takagi [16] in the presence of step in
interaction with a sea-tunnel in presence of wave-dissipating sub-
bottom bed. Moreover, wave forces on the submerged body were also
merged breakwater. The breakwater is homogeneous and isotropic.
measured in their study. Kaligatla et al. [17] explored for a suitable
Governing equations and boundary conditions are used based on the
location of floating breakwater in water of uneven depth to achieve
properties of ideal fluid and small amplitude water wave theory and are
tranquility zone at lee side. Manisha et al. [18] described the char-
expressed in terms of the Cartesian variables (x, y, z). The schematic of
acteristics of undulating bottoms on wave interaction with a floating
two dimensional cross section of the model is displayed in Fig. 1. The
bridge by the application of mild-slope equation. The study of effect of
xy-plane represents the mean free-surface of water with the positive z-
multiple bottom undulations on water wave propagation over a floating
axis in upward direction. The entire fluid region is divided into seven
dock, described through boundary element method, can be found in Kar
sub-regions and solutions are matched at interface boundaries for
et al. [19].
continuity of solutions. Region 1 represents an open sea of depth h from
Furthermore, coupled models involving floating or submerged
which waves propagate over a submerged porous breakwater and im-
structures together with wave-dissipating structures (Porous structures)
pinge on tunnel. The space between the breakwater and the free-surface
have been studied for the purpose of reducing wave effects on struc-
is denoted by region 2. Following the models of Losada et al. [26] and
tures. Yang et al. [20] proposed a model of fixed rectangular semi-
Silva et al. [25], the porous breakwater of finite width and infinite
submerged obstacle along with a thin porous breakwater near a wall.
length is considered in the present model. The breakwater has width L
Cho [21] analyzed transmission coefficient of water waves that oc-
and height a = h − hp (x ) where h is the constant depth and hp(x) is a
curred due to a floating rectangular breakwater with attached two
smooth function. The entire porous region is referred to as region 3. The
porous side plates. Qiao et al. [22] revised the model of Cho [21] for
gap between porous breakwater and tunnel of length L2 is represented
other physical effects such as horizontal and vertical forces. Singla et al.
by region 4. Regions 5,6 and 7 refer to adjacent regions of the tunnel as
[23] examined the performance of three different arrangements of a
in Fig. 1. The vertical gap length above the tunnel of height d is denoted
thin partial porous wall located near a very large floating elastic plate in
by Lg. The time harmonic wave motion is described with the aid of
lessening wave-induced forces on the elastic plate and deflection of
velocity potential which exists for an inviscid and incompressible fluid
plate.
with irrotational motion. Thus, we have time harmonic velocity po-
In this paper, a coupled model involving a submerged floating sea-
tential Φj (x , y, z , t ) = Re{φj (x , z )ei(μy − ωt ) }, for j = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
tunnel and a bottom mounted submerged porous breakwater is pro-
where μ = β0 sin θ and β0 is the wavenumber of a propagating wave in
posed to study wave reflection and transmission characteristics of
region 1. The fluid assumptions render Laplace equation in three di-
porous breakwater and its role in mitigating wave forces on tunnel. The
mensions satisfied by the function Φj. Since, in the present study the

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 2. Configurations of submerged porous breakwaters.

motion is assumed to be sinusoidal in the y-direction, the Laplace ∂φ4 ∂φ

φ4 = φ5 , = 5 at x = L + L1, −Lg < z < 0,
equation will be converted to Helmholtz equation in two dimensions. ∂x ∂x (11)
Hence, we have the Helmholtz equation
∂φ4 ∂φ6
2 2 φ4 = φ6 , = at x = L + L1, −h < z < −(d + Lg ),
⎛⎜ ∂ + ∂ − μ2 ⎟⎞ φ = 0 ∂x ∂x (12)
2 j
⎝ ∂x ∂z 2 ⎠ (1)
∂φ5 ∂φ7
φ5 = φ7 , = at x = L + L1 + L2 , −Lg < z < 0,
as the governing equation for the time independent velocity potential φj ∂x ∂x (13)
in each water region. The boundary condition on the free-surface of
∂φ6 ∂φ7
water is given by φ6 = φ7 , = at x = L + L1 + L2 , −h < z < −(d + Lg ).
∂x ∂x (14)
∂φj
− Kφj = 0, for j = 1, 2, 4, 5, 7,
∂z (2)
3. Method of Solution
where K = ω2 /
and
is the acceleration due to gravity. The
boundary condition on the flat bottom is given by To determine the solution of the boundary value problem stated
∂φj above, method of separation of variables is applied in each subregion
= 0 on z = −h for j = 1, 3, 4, 6, 7. and the potential functions are expressed in terms of eigenfunctions. In
∂z (3)
the case of flat bottom, plane wave solution is applied whereas in the
According to Losada et al. [26], the continuity of mass flow and pres- case of varying bottom, solution is approximated by a mild-slope
sure at the interface z = −hp (x ) are expressed as equation of Silva et al. [25]. The solutions obtained are matched at the
interface boundaries by the requirement of continuity in fluid pressure
∂φ2 dhp ∂φ2 ∂φ dhp ∂φ3 ⎞
+ = ϵ⎛ 3 +⎜ at z = −hp (x )
⎟ and velocity. The unknowns in the potential functions are expressed by
∂z dx ∂x ⎝ ∂z dx ∂x ⎠ (4) a system of algebraic equations. Breakwater’s profiles are restricted to
vary in a finite interval (0, L) and the mild-slope equation is solved in
and
this interval. In this problem, the profile of porous breakwater is
φ2 = (s + if ) φ3 at z = −hp (x ), (5) deemed to be continuously differentiable or piece-wise continuously
differentiable in (0, L). The solution of mild-slope equation is matched
where ϵ the porosity of porous material, s an inertial coefficient and f a
with the solutions in uniform bottom regions at slope discontinuous
linearized friction coefficient.
points. Also, for the continuity of mass flux at slope discontinuities,
On the vertical sides of the rigid tunnel, vanishing of horizontal
jump conditions are applied. We express the velocity potential in each
velocity yields
region as follows.
∂φj In region 1,
= 0 at x = L + L1, L + L1 + L2 , −(d + Lg ) < z < −Lg for j = 4, 7.
∂x φ1 (x , z ) = A0 e ip0 x f0 (z ) + R 0 e−ip0 x f0 (z ), (15)
(6)
where A0 is a known amplitude of incident wave,
Similarly, on the horizontal sides of the tunnel, vanishing of vertical
velocity yields −i
cosh β0 (z + h)
f0 (z) =
∂φ5
ω cosh β0 h
= 0 at z = −Lg , L + L1 < x < L + L1 + L2 ,
∂z (7)

∂φ6 with p0 = β02 − μ2 . R0 is an unknown amplitude of the corresponding

= 0 at z = −(d + Lg ), L + L1 < x < L + L1 + L2 , reflected wave to be determined. Here, β0 is the positive real root of the
∂z (8)
dispersion equation β tanh βh = K in β.
respectively. Moreover, since the continuity of fluid pressure and hor- The velocity potentials in the regions 2 and 3 were obtained by
izontal velocity across the common boundaries between two adjacent Losada et al. [26] through the notion of Rojanakamthorn et al. [27].
regions is required, we have They derived a depth integrated equation, called as mild-slope equa-
tion, in terms of velocity potential to model normal wave propagation
φ1 = φ2 at x = 0, −h < z < 0, (9)
over a submerged breakwater laid on an inclined seabed. However,
φ2 = φ4 at x = L, −h < z < 0 higher order terms involving square of bottom slope and bottom cur-
(10)
vature were neglected on the basis of mild-slope assumption. Later,
and Silva et al. [25] derived a mild-slope equation by employing Green’s

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

second identity in order to retain the important terms neglected by ( )

φ4 (x , z ) = B0 e ip0 x + C0 e−ip0 x f0 (z ), (22)
Losada et al. [26]. It was pointed out that the mild-slope equation of
Silva et al. [25] exactly matched with that of Losada et al. [26] when
cos r0 x sin r0 x ⎞
the higher order terms were omitted. Hence, for the present model, we φ5 (x , z ) = ⎜⎛D0 + E0 ⎟ χ (z ),
have applied the mild-slope equation of Silva et al. [25]. But, for the ⎝ cos r0 b sin r0 b ⎠ 0 (23)
sake of simplicity, we assume arbitrary thickness of porous layer
(breakwater) on an uniform impermeable bottom bed (as shown in cosh s0 x sinh s0 x ⎞
Fig. 1). Thus, according to Silva et al. [25], the potential functions in φ6 (x , z ) = ⎜⎛F0 + G0 ⎟ ξ (z )

⎝ cosh s0 b sinh s0 b ⎠ 0 (24)

regions 2 and 3 are written in the forms
φ2 (x , z ) = ψ0 (x ) M (z ) (16) and φ7 (x , z ) = T0 e ip0 x f0 (z ) (25)
and respectively, where
φ3 (x , z ) = ψ0 (x ) P (z ), (17) −i
cosh ζ0 (z + Lg )
χ0 (z) = ,
where ψ0(x) is an unknown function and the eigenfunctions ω cosh ζ0 Lg
−i
{cosh k0 (z + h) − F sinh k0 (z + h)} −i

M(z) = , ξ0 (z) = cos α0 (z + h)
ω(cosh k0 h − F sinh k0 h) (18) ω
−i
δ(1 − F tanh k0 a) cosh k0 (z + h)
P(z) = with r0 = ζ 02 − μ2 , α 0 = nπ /(h − (d + Lg )) and s0 = α 02 + μ2 for
ω(cosh k0 h − F sinh k0 h) (19)
n = 0, 1, 2, ... and b = L2 /2 . Here, B0, C0, D0, E0, F0, G0, T0 are unknown
with
constants, ζ0 is a positive real root of the dispersion equation
(1 − δ )tanh k 0 a ϵ ζ tanh ζLg − K = 0 in ζ.
F= , δ= ,
1 − δ tanh2 k 0 a s + if Next, at the interface boundaries x = 0 and x = L, continuity of
pressure yields
where a = h − hp (x ) and the wavenumber k0 is a complex root of the
dispersion equation ψ0 (x ) = A0 e ip0 x + R 0 e−ip0 x at x = 0 (26)
K − k tanh kh − F (K tanh kh − k ) = 0 (20)
and
in k and it is found locally in the varying depth region. Eq. (20) has
infinite number of complex roots. The numerical roots can be found by ψ0 (x ) = B0 e ip0 x + C0 e−ip0 x at x = L. (27)
applying Newton-Raphson method which was illustrated in [28]. For
Further, for bottom profiles defined in (0, L), to ensure the conservation
smaller values of f, the wavenumber k associated with most progressive
of mass flux across the interface boundaries at x = 0 and x = L, jump
mode in porous medium can be obtained by choosing the real positive
conditions are deduced as
wavenumber in water region as an initial guess. On the other hand, for
larger values of f, the wavenumbers in porous medium can also be dψ0 dhp ⎛ I22 ⎞
found by using k as initial guess which is associated with slightly +⎧ ⎜+ ip0 ⎫ ψ0 = 2ip0 A0 e ip0 x at x = 0+
⎟

dx ⎨
⎩ dx ⎝ I1 ⎠ ⎬
⎭ (28)
smaller value of f.
It is to be noted that the functions in (16) and (17) are approximate and
solutions in water and porous regions of varying geometry respectively.
Thus, with a little modification to the mild-slope equation of Silva et al. dψ0 dhp ⎛ I22 ⎞
+⎧ − ip0 ⎫ ψ0 + 2ip0 C0 e−ip0 x = 0 at x = L − ,
[25], the mild-slope equation in terms of ψ0(x) for oblique waves is
⎜ ⎟

dx ⎨
⎩ dx ⎝ I1 ⎠ ⎬
⎭ (29)
given by
where x = 0 + ,L− are the right and left limiting values of the points
d ⎛ dψ0 ⎞ 2 2 x = 0, L respectively. Finally, from the conditions in (11), (12), (13)
⎜I1 ⎟ + {(K − μ ) I1 + r (hp )} ψ0 = 0,
dx ⎝ dx ⎠ (21) and (14), we obtain
where
⎛⎜B e ip0 x + C e−ip0 x ⎞⎟ G − ⎛⎜D cos r0 x + E ⎫
2 0 0 22 0 0 ⎪
d 2hp dhp ⎞ ∂I22
r (hp) = I22 +⎛ ⎜ ⎛ ⎟ − I32 ⎞ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ cos r0 b ⎪
dx 2 ⎝ dx ⎠ ⎝ ∂h ⎠ ⎪
sin r0 x ⎞ ⎪
⎟ G44 = 0
with sin r0 b ⎠ ⎪
at x
⎬
1 −ip0 x ⎞ G − ⎛F cosh s0 x + G ⎪
0 −hp
⎛
I1 = ∫−h M 2 dz + ∫−h P 2 dz , ip x
⎜B0 e 0 + C0 e ⎟ 33 ⎜ 0 0
p δ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ cosh s0 b ⎪
⎪
0 ∂M 1 −hp ∂P sinh s0 x ⎞ ⎪
I22 = ∫−h p
M
∂hp
dz +
δ
∫−h P
∂hp
dz , ⎟ G55 = 0
sinh s0 b ⎠ ⎪
⎭
and = L + L1, (30)
2 2
0
⎛ ∂M ⎞ dz + 1 −hp
⎛ ∂P ⎞ dz.
I32 = ∫−h ⎜ ⎟ ∫−h ⎜ ⎟ ⎛⎜D cos r0 x + E sin r0 x ⎟⎞ G − T e ip0 x G = 0 ⎫
p
⎝ ∂hp ⎠ δ ⎝ ∂hp ⎠ 0 0 44 0 22 ⎪
⎪
⎝ cos r0 b sin r0 b ⎠
at x = L + L1 + L2 ,
Eq. (21) can be solved numerically for the function ψ0(x) for different ⎬
⎛F0 cosh s0 x + G0 sinh s0 x ⎞ G55 − T0 e ip0 x G33 = 0⎪
breakwater profiles hp(x). ⎜ ⎟
⎪
⎝ cosh s0 b sinh s0 b ⎠ ⎭
In the regions 4,5,6 and 7, the velocity potentials are expressed as
(as in Mondal and Takagi [16]) (31)

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

L + L1 + L2
ip0 ⎛⎜B0 e ip0 x − C0 e−ip0 x ⎞⎟ G11 − r0 ⎛⎜−D0
sin r0 x
+ E0
cos r0 x ⎞
⎟ G22
Cv = iρω ∫L+L 1
[φ6 (x , −(d + Lg )) − φ5 (x , −Lg )] dx ,
(35)
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ cos r0 b sin r0 b ⎠
where Ch and Cv are the horizontal and vertical forces on tunnel re-
sinh s0 x cosh s0 x ⎞
− s0 ⎛⎜F0 + G0 ⎟ G33 = 0, at x = L + L1 spectively. These forces shall be expressed in non-dimensional form as
⎝ cosh s 0 b sinh s0 b ⎠ (32)
|Ch | |Cv |
F1 = , F2 = .
and ρ
A0 h ρ
A0 h (36)
The bed profile hp(x) for the trapezoidal breakwater in an interval
sin r0 x cos r0 x ⎞
ip0 ⎛⎜T0 e ip0 x ⎞⎟ G11 − r0 ⎛⎜−D0 + E0 ⎟ G22 (x 0 , x3) = (0, L) is given by (as in [29])
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ cos r0 b sin r0 b ⎠
sinh s0 x cosh s0 x ⎞ ⎧ h + s1 (x − x 0) for x 0 < x ≤ x1,
− s0 ⎛⎜F0 + G0 ⎟ G33 = 0, hp (x ) = h˜ for x1 ≤ x ≤ x2 ,
⎝ cosh s 0 b sinh s0 b ⎠ ⎨
˜ − s2 (x − x2) for x2 ≤ x < x3 ,
h (37)
at x = L + L1 + L2 , (33) ⎩

where
0 0 −(d + Lg )
G11 = ∫−h f02 dz, G22 = ∫−L g
f0 χ0 dz , G33 = ∫−h
0 x1 − x 0 : x2 − x1 = 1: 3 and x3 − x2 : x2 − x1 = 1: 3 are maintained so that
G44 = ∫−L g
χ02 dz ,
−(d + Lg )
G55 = ∫−h ξ02 dz.
The set of Eqs. (26)-(33) will be solved to determine the unknowns
in the velocity potentials including the arbitrary constants in the solu-
tion of the mild-slope equation (21). In this Section, solution procedure
is described exclusively for bottom profiles which are continuously
differentiable in (0, L) and have slope discontinuities at the end points
x = 0 and x = L . However, for piece-wise smooth bottom profiles de-
fined in [0, L], the above procedure will be required to extend by uti-
lizing more number of pressure matching and mass conserving jump
conditions at slope discontinuous points. For more details, the reader is
referred to the Appendix A of Manisha et al. [18].
4. Computational Results and Discussion
In this Section, the characteristics of submerged porous breakwaters
of various configurations is demonstrated in attenuating waves and
reducing hydrodynamic forces on the submerged tunnel through nu-
merous results. The results are illustrated in terms of reflection and
transmission coefficients of waves Kr = |R 0 / A0 | and Kt = |T0/ A0 | fol-
lowed by resulting forces on the tunnel. The gravitational constant

= 9.81 m/sec2 and incident wave amplitude A0 = 1 are fixed for all
the computational results. A fixed characteristic wave length of plane
gravity wave λ = 2π / β0 pertaining to region 1 is used to consider
physical parameters in dimensionless form. From [16], wave-induced
forces on tunnel are calculated by using the integrals
−Lg
Ch = iρω ∫−(d+L ) [φ7 (L + L1 + L2 , z ) − φ4 (L + L1, z )] dz,
g (34)
where h̃ is the peak position of the profile, s1 = (h˜ − h)/(x1 − x 0 ) and
s2 = (h˜ − h)/(x3 − x2) being the gradients of the front slope and back
slope, respectively. When s1 < 0 and s2 < 0, hp(x) will refer to trape-
f0 ξ0 dz ,
zoidal breakwater. In computation, the ratios of the interval lengths
slopes s1, s2 are equal. On the other hand, the bed profile hp(x) for a
circular breakwater is expressed as (as in [30])
(h − s3)(1 + x 2 / m2) for |x| < c,
hp (x ) = ⎧
⎨
⎩h for |x| ≥ c,
where m = c (h − s3)/ s3 , c = L/2, x is the radius, s3 = h − h̃ is the
breakwater height. The bed profile hp(x) for the wedge-type breakwater
in an interval (x 0 , x2) = (0, L) is given by
h + s1 (x − x 0) for x 0 < x ≤ x1,
hp (x ) = ⎧
⎨
⎩ h − s2 (x − x2) for x1 ≤ x < x2 , (38)
where s1 = (h˜ − h)/(x1 − x 0 ) , s2 = (h˜ − h)/(x2 − x1) and the ratio
x1 − x 0 : x2 − x1 = 1: 1 is maintained so that slopes s1, s2 are equal. This
bottom function can be derived simply from the function in (37). Here,
the study of wedge-shaped breakwater is motivated from Ehrenmark
[31] who analyzed an inverted V-shaped wedge breakwater with its tip
touching the free-surface. Henceforth, we abbreviate the trapezoidal,
circular and wedge shaped breakwaters as TB, CB and WB respectively.
It is to be noted that for all the results presented here, the following
structural and wave parameters are fixed while others are varying un-
less otherwise mentioned: h = 30 m, h̃ = 15 m, L = 200 m, L1 = 20 m,
L2 = 20 m, ϵ = 0.5, s = 1, f = 1, Lg = 6 m, d = 7.5 m, θ = 30∘.
First, results of present problem are compared with some results in
literature for certain limiting cases concerned with absence of break-
water and zero gap length between tunnel and free-surface. Fig. 3
compares reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt against
wavenumber β0h for different gap lengths Lg. The case Lg = 0 represents
scattering of waves by floating bridge in the presence of no breakwater
which was studied by Abul-Azm and Gesraha [7]. These results are
recovered by making Lg → 0 and by reducing height of the impermeable

Fig. 3. (a) Reflection coefficient Kr and (b) transmission coefficient Kt with L2 = 60 m .

5
M. Sharma, et al.
Fig. 4. (a) Horizontal force F1 and (b) vertical force F2 with L2 = 60 m .
breakwater so that breakwater’s effect on waves vanishes. This leads to
exact agreement between the present method and the method of Abul-
Azm and Gesraha [7]. In Fig. 3(a), Kr decays with β0h as the gap length
Lg increases. This indicates a trivial phenomenon of increasing trans-
mission with wider gap lengths which is evident from Fig. 3(b).
Moreover, the number of β0h, for which minimum in wave reflection
occurs, decreases with the increase in Lg.
Figure 4 depicts horizontal and vertical forces F1 and F2 on floating
bridge as well as tunnel in the presence of TB. Again these results are
compared with that of Abul-Azm and Gesraha [7]. Results reveal that
presence of TB reduces forces on floating bridge and tunnel for most of
the wavenumbers. Further, wavenumbers of zero horizontal forces be-
come less as gap length Lg increases.
Figure 5 demonstrates the variations in reflection and transmission
coefficients Kr and Kt of incident wave of angle 30∘ against the wave-
number β0h for three bottom configurations as in Fig. 2. Fig. 5(a)
compares the coefficients resulted from the cases of impermeable,
permeable trapezoidal breakwaters and no breakwater. It reveals that
impermeable breakwater shows zero reflection at more wavenumbers
as compared to permeable breakwater and the case of absence of
breakwater. In both the cases of impermeable breakwater and no
breakwater, higher wave transmission over tunnel occurs. On the other
hand, permeable breakwater leads to the occurrence of less reflection
and less transmission of waves due to wave energy dissipation. Fig. 5(b)
makes comparison for Kr and Kt resulted from the three types of
permeable breakwaters. TB exhibits higher reflection for smaller wa-
venumbers and lesser reflection for larger wavenumbers whereas WB
shows the phenomenon opposite to TB. CB shows neither less nor more
reflection in comparison with other breakwaters. TB dissipates more
wave energy and shows less transmission. Moreover, WB is found to be
incompetent in dissipating wave energy since higher transmission oc-
curs over tunnel.
In Fig. 6, the horizontal force F1 and vertical force F2 on tunnel are
Fig. 5. Variations of reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt versus wavenumber β0h.
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Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069
plotted as functions of non dimensional wavenumber β0h with the same
parametric values used for Fig. 5. The force quantities due to porous
breakwater are compared with that in the case of no breakwater. Both
forces on tunnel increases up to certain wavenumber and then de-
creases with wavenumber in all cases. Porous breakwater results in
considerable reduction in forces on tunnel. A comparison among the
breakwaters brings out that TB is effective in mitigating higher amount
of wave forces. Also, CB may also be preferred as a second choice since
it shows satisfactory role in mitigating wave forces.
Figures 7 (a)-(c) illustrate reflection and transmission coefficients Kr
and Kt with β0h for different values of porous effect parameter ϵ and
friction parameter f of TB, CB and WB respectively. A breakwater with
(ϵ, f ) = (0, 0) is meant for an impermeable breakwater and it shows
higher reflection. However, lower reflection occurs by the porous
breakwaters and it further decreases with increasing ϵ. For any wave-
number, wave transmission decreases as ϵ increases. Thus, breakwater
with higher porosity shows less transmission by absorbing much wave
energy. TB outperforms the others in reducing wave transmission sub-
stantially.
The corresponding horizontal force F1 and vertical force F2 asso-
ciated with Fig. 7 are plotted in Figs. 8 and 9 respectively. In these
figures, wave forces on tunnel due to the three submerged porous
breakwaters are compared. Forces are reducing as porosity increases.
Moreover, the plots bring out that tunnel experiences lesser horizontal
and vertical forces due to TB than the forces due to other breakwaters.
In this situation, vertical force is higher than the horizontal one.
In Fig. 10, reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt are
plotted as functions of wavenumber β0h for the three porous break-
waters by changing their submergence depth h̃ from free-surface. In the
case of TB, for wavenumbers between 0 and 1.25, Kr decreases with
increasing h̃ whereas it is in opposite trend for the rest of the wave-
numbers. A similar phenomenon occurs for the other two breakwaters
CB and WB also but the range of wavenumbers is slightly different. As
M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 6. (a) Horizontal force F1 and (b) vertical force F2 versus wavenumber β0h.

Fig. 7. Variations of reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt versus β0h for different porosity ϵ and friction coefficient f in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c)
WB.

Fig. 8. Horizontal force F1 associated with Fig. 7 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

expected, transmission coefficient Kt in each breakwater case, increases tunnel.

when clearance h̃ widens. At smaller clearance h̃, TB accounts for an
occurrence of zero reflection at certain wavenumbers, but these waves
will be highly dissipated by the breakwater which is evident from
Fig. 10(a). This is also true for other breakwaters, however it happens at
wider clearance h̃ .
Figures 11 and 12 show the resulting forces due to breakwater’s
settings considered in Fig. 10. The reduction in forces with decreasing h̃
is a prominent fact since a breakwater with larger height absorbs much
wave energy. Thus, apparently smaller value of h̃ shows lesser force on
tunnel. Of all the breakwaters, TB presents comparatively less forces on
Figure 13 describes reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and
Kt against wave incident angle θ when different depths of submergence
of the tunnel Lg are considered. Results depict that Kr attains minimum
at some angle and then increases monotonically in the cases of TB and
CB whereas it happens for WB when Lg = 0 only. However, Kt is strictly
decreasing with increasing incident angle for all the breakwaters. In the
presence of TB and CB, reflection decreases when the clearance Lg be-
comes larger for the angles up to 70∘. On the other hand, in the presence
of WB, it holds valid up to angles 65∘.
Figures 14 and 15 are presented to study hydrodynamic forces on

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 9. Vertical force F2 associated with Fig. 7 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

Fig. 10. Variations of reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt versus β0h for different breakwater depth h̃ in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

Fig. 11. Horizontal force F1 related to Fig. 10 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

tunnel corresponding to Fig. 13. Here, one can see that increasing the
submergence depth of tunnel leads to the decrement in horizontal and
vertical forces. Among all these porous breakwaters, TB presents com-
paratively lower forces than others for all submergence depths.
The influence of length of porous breakwater is analyzed in Fig. 16
for all the breakwater’s configurations chosen here. The plots reveal
that reflection coefficient tends to zero at certain wave incident angle
for some lengths of the breakwater. These angles may be referred to as
critical angles. Remarkably, from Fig. 16(a), for each length of TB,
critical angle exists. On the other hand, such angles may not exist for
some lengths of CB and WB as in Figs. 16(b) and (c). The consequent
hydrodynamic forces connecting to the results in Fig. 16 are plotted in
Figs. 17 and 18. As expected, the horizontal and vertical forces are
tremendously reduced when increasing breakwater’s length because of
dissipation of much wave energy by large size porous breakwater.
Figure 19 presents reflection coefficient Kr versus gap length L1/λ
between the porous breakwater and the tunnel for incident wave angle
θ = 30∘ and wavenumber β0 h = 1.2 . Kr is found to be periodic with L1/λ
for each of the breakwater’s configuration. This may be due to re-
sonating wave motion between the region of porous breakwater and
tunnel. These figures provide distances L1/λ for each length of break-
waters considered, at which minimum or maximum wave reflection

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 12. Vertical force F2 related to Fig. 10 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

Fig. 13. Variations of reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt versus θ for different depths of submergence Lg when β0 h = 1.2 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB
and (c) WB.

Fig. 14. Horizontal force F1 associated with Fig. 13 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

occurs. For higher widths of breakwater, oscillation amplitude of Kr
reduces in a drastic manner. Moreover, each value of L is found to cause
a phase shift in the reflection coefficient.
In Fig. 20, Kr and Kt are plotted versus gap length L1/λ to show the
influence of submergence depth Lg on these scattering coefficients.
Results depict that when the tunnel becomes a surface-piercing one,
waves are highly reflected. On the other hand, when Lg increases, waves
are much transmitted. Remarkably, for certain values of L1/λ when
Lg = 6 m, almost full transmission occurs which indicates that waves
show dominant behavior over submerged structure. Kr has a consider-
able phase shift from zero to non-zero values of Lg. This indicates that
maximum value of Kr tends to minimum value at L1/λ. This holds true
for Kt as well.
5. Conclusions
A model problem for oblique gravity wave interaction with a sub-
merged floating tunnel in the presence of a bottom mounted porous
breakwater with various configurations is studied. This coupled model
describes the effectiveness of porous breakwater in reducing wave
transmission and mitigating wave forces on tunnel. The problem for its
solution is tackled with the use of plane wave approximation in

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 15. Vertical force F2 associated with Fig. 13 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

Fig. 16. Variations of reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt versus θ for different breakwater width L when β0 h = 1.2 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c)
WB.

Fig. 17. Horizontal force F1 associated with Fig. 16 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

conjunction with mild-slope equation for breakwater configurations.
First, results are compared with impermeable and permeable break-
waters by plotting reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt as
functions of wavenumber β0h. It is found that transmission coefficient
Kt has large values for all wavenumbers in the case of impermeable
breakwater. On the other hand, porous breakwater shows smaller va-
lues of Kt by dissipating wave energy. Among all porous breakwaters,
trapezoidal breakwater (TB) makes the Kt smaller in comparison with
circular breakwater (CB) and wedge-type breakwater (WB). As a result,
less force on tunnel is achieved by TB. Further, increase in porosity (ϵ)
and friction (f) of porous medium results in decrease in reflection as
well as transmission of waves and thus much reduction in forces on
tunnel occurs. Effect of gap length Lg is analyzed on Kr and Kt and forces
on tunnel. For smaller Lg, less wave transmission is noticed. This leads
to exerting less wave force on tunnel. In all cases, horizontal force is less
than vertical force on tunnel. Kr and Kt are investigated with wave in-
cident angle (θ). Wave reflection becomes zero for some incident angles
in the cases of TB and CB. However, this is not the case for WB. Forces
decrease with an increase in wave incident angles. Porous breakwaters
of larger width perform well in dissipating wave energy and reduce
force on tunnel substantially. Also, Kr and Kt are depicted as functions
of distance between tunnel and breakwater for all the breakwater

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M. Sharma, et al. Applied Ocean Research 96 (2020) 102069

Fig. 18. Vertical force F2 associated with Fig. 16 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

Fig. 19. Variations of reflection coefficient Kr versus L1/λ for different breakwater width L when β0 h = 1.2 in the cases of (a) TB, (b) CB and (c) WB.

Fig. 20. Variations of reflection and transmission coefficients Kr and Kt versus L1/λ for different submerged depth Lg when β0 h = 1.2 and θ = 30∘ in the cases of (a) TB
(impermeable) and (b) TB (permeable).

configurations. Both the coefficients are found to be periodic. At the influence the work reported in this paper.
same time, for larger width of breakwater suppresses amplitude of
periodic oscillation in Kr. When Lg changes from zero to non-zero value, Conflict of interest
maximum in reflection becomes minimum owing to much phase shift in
Kr and so is in Kt. A similar study can be carried out for a circular tunnel The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
which is also a part of developmental activities. Furthermore, the same
metrology can be extended for multiple porous breakwaters in order for
achieving even less forces on tunnel. Author Statement

T. Sahoo proposed the physical problem and contributed at every

Declaration of interests stage of writing, reviewing and editing the manuscript. R.B. Kaligatla
developed the mathematical model and supervised the execution of the
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial model with the solution procedure at every stage and oversees the
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to validation of the numerical model. Manisha worked out on the detail

11
M. Sharma, et al.
mathematical formulation, developed the numerical code and initiating
the formal writing of the manuscript.
Acknowledgement
Kaligatla acknowledges the funding support provided by Science
and Engineering Research Board, Government of India, under Early
Career Research Award with grant No. ECR/2017/001859. TS ac-
knowledges the partial support received from the Department of
Science and Technology, Government of India through Award No.DST/
CCP/CoE/79/2017(G).
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