An Experimental Study to Investigate the Efficiency of Floating Pontoons on the Wave Overtopping Reduction

Abstract

There are many studies focused on the wave transmission performance of floating structures. However, the performance of floating structures to prevent coastal floods has not yet been investigated considering wave overtopping. This study aimed to experimentally assess the wave overtopping performance of a concrete floating pontoon in front of an existing vertical sea wall. The mean wave overtopping discharge, q, was compared for the cases with and without the floating pontoon model in front of the wall. Results showed that the baseline floating pontoon model reduced wave overtopping discharge by 30-90% compared to the case with the wall alone. Furthermore, the study revealed that an increase in freeboard or draft of the floating pontoon led to a greater reduction in wave overtopping. These findings suggest that the integration of a floating pontoon with optimized freeboard and draft could be an effective solution for reducing wave overtopping in coastal defense applications. © 2025 by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE).