Nonlinear time–domain analysis of motion-restrained pneumatic floating breakwater

A pneumatic-type floating breakwater is simulated in the time–domain to evaluate wave blocking and wave energy absorption. For accurate nonlinear time–domain simulation, a fully nonlinear numerical wave tank (NWT) technique has been used. In the present study, the NWT for the pneumatic breakwater is extended to the case of restrained body motion using the mode-decomposition method in the acceleration potential field. In particular, the effect of individual body motion coupled with pneumatic damping in the chamber is investigated for the case in which the breakwater is only allowed to move one degree-of-freedom: for instance, using a heave-only allowable body. The present results are compared with various motion cases as well as a box-shaped breakwater.