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This paper investigates the influence of waveovertopping on the impact wave force on a vertical breakwater by means of model experiments. Both of plunging and spilling waves impact on the vertical breakwater were conducted in the experiment. It was found that the log-normal probability density function can be used to describe the distribution of the maximum impact wave force by non-overtopping and overtopping waves. The time history of the impact wave force on various heights of breakwaters was also compared. Experimental results showed that the impact wave force by the influence of wave overtopping is reducible by 30% maximum, when compared with the situation of non-overtopping impact wave on the breakwater. However, the impact wave force may increase due to the wave overtopping for a certain height of the breakwater. It was found that the value of the impact wave force is strongly affected by the completeness of the compression shock of the impact wave. This paper also presents the relationship between the maximum water surface elevation of the impact wave, hm, and the breaking wave height, Hb. Experimental results showed that the ratios of hm/ Hb are about 1.23 and 1.42 for the plunging and spilling waves, respectively, for non-overtopping cases. The relationship between the height of the breakwater and the maximum water surface elevation of the impact wave of the overtopping wave was also presented empirically.
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