4. Wave Tripper Floating Breakwater . 



Potter (J. Potter, WES, personal communication, 1975) designed and 

 patented a floating breakwater concept which utilizes the turbulent 

 dissipative mechnaism by inducing instabilities and breaking surface gravity 

 waves (Fig. 188). The structure can be constructed to various widths, 

 lengths, and heights, depending on the wave climate. No actual evaluation 

 testing or prototype installations have been performed to date. 



Figure 188. Design concept for Wave Tripper floating breakwater 

 (numbers identify structure components). 



XII. ENERGY PEAK DISPERSION FLOATING BREAKWATERS 



The method of wave train interference has been developed to reduce the 

 peak energy density of waves in which the energy is concentrated in narrow 

 frequency bands, using two distinctly different mechanisms. An offset break- 

 water configuration incorporates vertical reflecting surfaces (static system) 

 oriented normal to the direction of wave propagation and displaced from each 

 other by one-half wavelength. This design reduces the anchoring forces 

 required to hold the floating breakwater in place, as the net pressure distri- 

 butions on the various sections of the structure are in opposite directions. 

 The reflected waves are accordingly 90° or 180° out of phase with the incident 

 waves. The wave barrier concept consists of an array of wave-excited modules 

 acting as sources of elliptical wave fronts (dynamic system) which radiate 

 outward and interfere with the incident wave field. The radiated waves should 

 be high enough to trigger instabilities in the incoming waves, resulting 

 in premature breaking and dissipation of the energy peak in the region of 

 interference. 



248 



