Physical model tests were carried out on a 1:100 model of a typical Italian caisson breakwater, subject to a multidirectional wave attack causing mainly spilling and occasionally plunging breakers, from which a statistical description of breaker impacts is produced. The paper analyses the impact identification procedure and describes the statistics of the impact events exceeding quasi static wave load. The average impulse results independent from impact duration, whereas the variance increases as impact duration decreases. Most impacts last from 5 to 25% of peak wave period T_p, the average rise time being approximately 0.05 T_p. Local loading due to breakers does not appear to be conditioned by the wave field originating them, depending mostly on breaking wave conditions.
展开▼
