Reflection Coefficient In Coastal Structures With Rubble-Mound Breakwaters Calculator

Reflection Coefficient Formula:

\[ Reflection\ Coef.\ (Rubble-Mound\ Breakwater) = \frac{0.6 \times Surf\ Similarity\ Number\ (Iribarren\ Number)^2}{6.6 + Surf\ Similarity\ Number\ (Iribarren\ Number)^2} \]

Reflection Coefficient (Rubble-Mound Breakwater):

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From:	To:

1. What is Reflection Coefficient in Rubble-Mound Breakwaters?

The Reflection Coefficient for Rubble-Mound Breakwaters is a dimensionless parameter that quantifies how much wave energy is reflected back towards the sea when waves encounter a rubble-mound breakwater structure. It ranges from 0 (no reflection) to 1 (complete reflection).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the reflection coefficient formula:

\[ Reflection\ Coef. = \frac{0.6 \times Ir^2}{6.6 + Ir^2} \]

Where:

\( Ir \) — Surf Similarity Number (Iribarren Number), dimensionless
0.6 — Empirical coefficient
6.6 — Empirical constant

Explanation: The formula calculates the proportion of wave energy reflected by a rubble-mound breakwater based on the Iribarren number, which characterizes wave breaking conditions.

3. Importance of Reflection Coefficient Calculation

Details: Accurate reflection coefficient estimation is crucial for coastal engineering design, wave energy dissipation analysis, and predicting wave behavior around breakwater structures.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the Surf Similarity Number (Iribarren Number) as a dimensionless value. The value must be non-negative.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the typical range for reflection coefficients?
A: Reflection coefficients typically range from 0.1 to 0.8 for rubble-mound breakwaters, depending on wave conditions and structure characteristics.

Q2: How does the Iribarren number affect reflection?
A: Higher Iribarren numbers generally result in higher reflection coefficients, as steeper waves tend to reflect more energy.

Q3: What factors influence reflection coefficient besides Iribarren number?
A: Breakwater slope, armor unit size and shape, wave period, and water depth also significantly affect reflection characteristics.

Q4: When is this formula most applicable?
A: This empirical formula is most applicable for conventional rubble-mound breakwaters with typical armor units under normal wave conditions.

Q5: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: The formula may be less accurate for extreme wave conditions, very steep or very flat breakwaters, or unconventional armor configurations.