Analysis of wave transmission behind low-crested breakwaters using neural networks

This paper aims at improving the prediction of wave transmission behind low-crested breakwaters by means of a numerical model based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The data here used are those gathered within the European research project DELOS.Firstly, the motivations that lead to employ an ANN numerical model to forecast the wave transmission behind low-crested structures are discussed. Then, the ANN model is tested and its architecture is optimized with a test targeted on assessing both the accuracy and the robustness of the method. A study is devoted to investigate the ANN model capability in reproducing some physical relationships among the involved parameters. Finally, comparisons of ANN results with those from experimental formulations based on the classic regression approach demonstrate a considerable improvement in the forecast accuracy.The ANN forecasting tool is available as a user-friendly Internet applet at: http://w3.uniroma1.it/cmar/wave_transm_kt.htm.