The solution envisaged in this proposal is to use a very large floating mat (VLFM) as a floating breakwater. Depending on the elasticity, relative dimensions with respect to wave length and wave angle, a mat exhibits different levels of reflection and transmission. The dimensions, elasticity and wave angle will be optimized in an effective design to achieve the maximum protection in the target wave environment. The VLFM is not intended to act directly as a causeway, but rather as an environmental shield enabling existing causeway designs to operate under its protection thus supporting a layered defense approach. This layered defense approach enables the VLFM to be sacrificial during extreme events and repairable in calmer seas. It is expected to sustain local damage without catastrophic failure of entire system and without significant deterioration in system performance. Being a floating breakwater, it is also less sensitive to water depth and the specified 20 feet tidal fluctuation.
Benefit: It is expected that an easily deployable, low maintenance, durable, temporary breakwater will find wide-ranging applications in naval, commercial shipping and offshore oil arenas. For example, ship-to-ship cargo transfer operations in an open roadstead can be enabled with temporary protection from harsh wave environments. Breakwaters can be deployed to improve the operability of offshore LNG terminals. The expertise, tools and techniques matured under this project will also enable more efficient analysis of large floating structures like the floating bridges in Washington State.
Keywords: Sea Base, Sea Base, Causeway, Sea State, VLFS, breakwater, diffraction, Austere Port, hydroelasticity
