V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



Prototype scale tests to determine the mooring load and wave trans- 

 mission characteristics of a floating tire breakwater system using 8- 

 and 12-Goodyear-tire modules were conducted in CERC's large wave tank 

 using wave conditions similar to those found on semisheltered bodies of 

 water. Two structure widths (4 and 6 modules, respectively) were tested 

 in water depths of 2 and 4 meters. 



Results of the tests showed that as the breakwater width to incident 

 wavelength ratio, W/L, increases, the transmission coefficient, K^, 

 decreases. Also, for the same value of W/L, as the incident wave 

 height, H^, increases, the transmission coefficient decreases slightly. 

 In addition the breakwater depth to water depth ratio does not appear to 

 influence the transmission coefficient for the range of wave conditions 

 and water depths tested. A suggested design curve for predicting the 

 transmission coefficient for a given breakwater width to wavelength ratio 

 is given (Fig. 18). The curve is valid for W/L ratios up to 1.4 and 

 wave heights up to 140 centimeters. 



The tests also showed that the peak and average mooring loads are 

 primarily a function of the incident wave height and to a lesser extent 

 the W/L ratio. In all cases, the larger the wave height and W/L 

 ratio, the higher the force obtained. It was concluded that a conserva- 

 tive prediction for design of the mooring lines and anchor system for an 

 FTB would be to use the mooring force load based on the peakload curve 

 shown in Figure 25. 



