The linearized theory of water waves is used to study the diffraction of an incident wave
by a gap in a permeable breakwater. Under the assumption that the wavelength is much greater
than the thickness, the breakwater is replaced by a thin barrier and a suitable boundary condition
applied on the barrier to model the permeability. A new Green’s function is used in an application
of Green’s theorem to obtain an integral equation which is solved numerically to obtain the flow
field. An approximate solution valid for large gaps is also given. Results are presented to illustrate
the effects of permeability and changes in the angle of wave incidence.
This is a pre-print. The definitive version: BOWEN, M.K. and McIVER, P., 2002. Diffraction by a gap in an infinite permeable breakwater. Journal of Waterway Port Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 128(1), pp. 2-9.