Laboratory experiments on the sliding failure of a caisson breakwater subjected to solitary wave attack

Abstract

At present no methodology exists to evaluate the failure mode of a caisson breakwater subjected to a tsunami attack. The present paper investigates the sliding and tilting failure of a caisson breakwater subjected to a solitary wave attack, and establishes a relationship between the sliding and vertical movement. The vertical movement of the caisson is evaluated using the method of Esteban and Shibayama (2006), originally was developed for wind waves. The method was verified by carrying out laboratory experiments using solitary waves and comparing the results to those obtained using the new methodology. The sliding failure will be discussed and a general expression for an upper bound limit to the sliding will be proposed. Copyright © 2008 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.