Publications

This paper presents the analysis of the probability of occurrence of wave overtopping events as well as its consequences at the Port of Las Nieves in Agaete, Gran Canaria Island, with the evaluation of the resulting level of flood risk. The study has been conducted using a third-generation spectral wave model to reproduce wave propagation from deep to shallow water depths considering the associated mean sea level, and a neural network-based model, for estimating mean wave overtopping discharges. Results reveal that overtopping in the initial sections of the port, located in the port access area, is substantially higher than that associated with the cross-sections of the main body of the breakwater, so that control actions to reduce overtopping are required due to the important socioeconomic implications regarding the infrastructure inoperability.

Neste trabalho, descreve-se a aplicação ao porto e baía da Praia da Vitória, na ilha Terceira, Açores, Portugal, da metodologia de avaliação do risco de galgamentos em estruturas marítimas em desenvolvimento no LNEC, considerando duas ferramentas neuronais para cálculo dos galgamentos baseadas em resultados da aplicação de redes neuronais artificiais, nomeadamente a ferramenta NN_Overtopping2 e a Overtopping Predictor v1.1. Em particular, avalia-se comparativamente quais as implicações que a utilização de cada uma destas ferramentas tem em termos de número de eventos de galgamento e magnitude dos caudais médios galgados, bem como consequente grau de risco, para as 9 secções-tipo de estruturas marítimas estudadas no porto e baía da Praia da Vitória. O período de estudo é de 5 anos (2008 a 2012).

O galgamento de estruturas portuárias consiste na passagem de água sobre o coroamento da estrutura pela ação da agitação marítima e é um dos fenómenos com maior impacto na integridade da estrutura e na segurança da zona por ela protegida. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o galgamento num quebra-mar de taludes, com um importante muro cortina, protegido por um quebra-mar submerso. Em particular, pretende-se otimizar a geometria do quebra-mar submerso situado a barlamar do quebra-mar de taludes, no qual se pretende diminuir o galgamento.A estrutura marítima em estudo é o molhe norte do Porto de Leixões, em frente ao qual já existe um quebra-mar submerso na zona da cabeça. Pretende-se estender a zona do molhe protegida pelo quebra-mar submerso e, para tal, é necessário estudar qual a melhor geometria e posição a adotar para este quebra-mar.Para estudar a influência da geometria e da posição do quebra-mar submerso no galgamento do molhe norte, utilizou-se o modelo numérico IH2VOF. Simularam-se três condições de agitação regular, que diferem somente na altura de onda, e sete geometrias do quebra-mar submerso, que diferem da configuração original (a existente atualmente) em três características: a distância entre o quebra-mar submerso e o molhe, a cota de coroamento do quebra-mar submerso e a sua largura de coroamento.Com a realização deste estudo, para as condições de agitação consideradas, verificou-se que as características com maior impacto na redução do galgamento no molhe norte do Porto de Leixões são: o aumento da distância entre o quebra-mar submerso e o molhe e o aumento da cota de coroamento do quebra-mar submerso. O caudal médio de galgamento para as condições de agitação em estudo reduziu-se de um valor máximo de 0,71 l/s/m para a configuração original para 0,02 l/s/m em duas das novas configurações analisadas, ou seja, uma redução de 97% face à configuração original.

The susceptibility of bridge decks to vortex induced oscillations can b eaddressed through wind-tunnel testing. This paper considers the case of the Vila-Real Bridge, in the north of Portugal, which has the highest deck above ground (230m), among concrete-deck bridges cable-stayed in the central plane. It has a single-cell rectangular box girder with a wide top flange supported by regularly spaced inclined struts. Aeroelastic studies of this precise type of deck seem nonexistent in the literature.Results of sectional model tests are presented for a selection of three distinct angles of attack and three deck configurations, including a solution, alternative to the usual mitigation measures, that solved the susceptibility to vortex induced vibration of the deck and that has no relevant additional design or building costs.With the proposed approach, bridge designers may be able to relegate the use of sections with high aerodynamic performance

Wave-induced flow velocity and turbulence may cause scouring in the seabed around coastal structures depending on the wave climate and tidal water depth. A 3-D physical modelling study was conducted to investigate the possible causes of the sinking of two submerged coastal structures on the Santa Maria del Mar (SMM) beach, Spain. The experimental investigation was conducted by employing a Froude similarity law with a geometric scale of 1:20, and the submerged modular structure was subjected to different wave climates and tidal water levels. The combinations of the significant wave height and peak period were chosen from in-situ real wave conditions thatwere monitored during the sinking of the prototype structures. Linking and unlinking conditions for the modules in the structure were investigated in this study. The results show that the modules sank to approximately 48% of their height at the end of the tests with storm waves and semi-linking conditions of low water depth. Most of the experimental results were compatible with the prototype monitoring results. Tests with proper linking among themodules and testswith an appropriate gravel foundation resulted in a sustainable solution because they presented much less or almost no scouring and sinking.

Despite the simplicity of the geometry of the circular cylinders, the uniform flow around them is complex,since it may induce unsteady forces on structures associated with vortex shedding. This paper describes the study of two circular cylinders (the downstream one is elastically mounted in transversal direction) in tandem arrangement subject to bi-dimensional uniform laminar flows at low Reynolds numbers. The academic numerical model Ifeinco, which is based on the finite element method and uses a partitioned scheme that considers two-way interaction of fluid flow and structure, has been employed to the analysis.Firstly, both stationary cylinders in tandem arrangement for Re = 100 are analysed for center to center distance between the cylinders, L/D, from 1.5 to 6.0. Results of lift and drag coefficients and Strouhal number are compared with other numerical results and good agreement is found. Secondly, numerical results for L/D = 5.25, considering downstream elastically mounted cylinder, are analysed for Reynolds numbers ranging from 100 to 140. It shows that the resonance occurs for Reynolds numbers between 115 and 120 and the maximum dimensionless amplitude of oscillation is 0.721 for Re = 118.

Techniques based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been increasingly applied to predict emergency situations, such as extreme wave conditions, wave overtopping or flooding, and damage to maritime structures, in coastal and port areas. In this work, a fuzzy adaptive resonance theory with mapping (FAM) ANN was trained to predict the wave regime both inside and at the entrance to the Port of Sines, one of the major trade and economic gateways of the Iberian Peninsula, located on the Portuguese west coast. In situ measurements using pressure sensors, wave buoy data, and results from two numerical wave propagation models

The main goal of this paper is to develop a photogrammetric method in order to obtain arobust tool for damage assessment and quantification of rubble-mound armour layers during physicalscale model tests. With the present work, an innovative approach based on a reduced number ofdigital photos is proposed to support the identification of affected areas. This work considers twosimple digital photographs recording the instants before and after the completion of the physicaltest. Mathematical techniques were considered in the development of the procedures, enabling thetracking of image differences between photos. The procedures were developed using an open-sourceapplication, Scilab, nevertheless they are not platform dependent. The procedures developed enablethe location and identity of eroded areas in the breakwater armour layer, as well as the possibilityof quantifying them. This ability is confirmed through the calculation of correlation coefficients ineach step of the search for the more damaged area. It is also possible to make an assessment of themovement of armour layer units.

Nowadays, renewable energy is a topic widely discussed in scientific community. Specifically wave energy attracts attention because it has a high energy potential distributed throughout the planet. Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy converter is one of the most studied devices that have promising perspectives to be installed commercially. This study aims investigating the influence of chamber sizes and turbine characteristics dimensions of an OWC device located at the southern Brazilian coast is carried out. Numerical simulations for incident waves with period T = 7 s and 10 s and height H = 1.5 m, by using the FLUENT® model, based on the finite volume method (VFM) are carried out. Efficiencies for different chamber sizes and Wells turbine characteristic relations (kt) in each incident wave are determined. The highest efficiencies were obtained by a chamber with 5 x 5 m and kt = 530 Pa.s/m³ in the case of an incident wave with T = 7s (52%), and 30 x 30 m and kt = 15 Pa.s/m³ at T = 10s (65%).

Port terminals downtimes lead to large economic losses and largely affect the port

This paper describes the physical model, experimental setup and tests performed to study the motions and forces of a ship moored to the pier A at the Leixões oil terminal, following the breakwater

HIDRALERTA is a forecast, early warning and risk assessment system for port and coastal areas that uses measurements and estimates of sea-waves and water levels to evaluate overtopping/flooding events. The calculation of the mean overtopping discharge over a maritime structure is performed through artificial neural network-based tools and/or empirical formulae. The system is developed in open source software, mainly using the Python language. This paper presents the application of HIDRALERTA system to reproduce the hurricane Lorenzo conditions and impacts at Lajes das Flores port on October 2nd 2019, the most affected port in Azores. This hurricane was regarded as the strongest storm to hit Azores in 20 years. The system predicted the expected results for the hurricane wave characteristics, as well as overtopping discharge volumes. Further validation still need to be improved with the collaboration of the local authorities and the use of historical data.

Numerical models are useful tools to predict the effects of storms in coastal areas. The objective of this work was to simulate the effects of storms in São Pedro de Moel beach by using XBeach. The nearshore sea state was obtained by propagating offshore conditions using the SWAN model. The XBeach model was divided into two setups to analyse overtopping events and coastal evolution. Sensibility tests, calibration, and validation, using information from different storms, were performed for the different setups. The results from the overtopping simulation were compared against results from an empirical formula. The comparison showed lower values obtained with the empirical formula. The coastal evolution run point out to the necessity of having better field data before and after storms to improve the model setting and accuracy.

The assessment of damage evolution in scale model tests of rubble-mound breakwaters can be achieved by comparing eroded depths and volumes between consecutive surveys. This paper focuses on damage evolution of a model of a rubble-mound breakwater and on the novelty of the non-intrusive survey methodologies such as laser scanning and Time of Flight (ToF) techniques, based on point clouds, enabling the extraction of profiles and the calculation of eroded depths and eroded volumes. The final objective of this work is to evaluate the applicability of the estimation the number of displaced armour units, using a non-dimensional damage parameter based on the calculated eroded volume.The paper will also describe the experiments conducted under the RODBreak, a project sponsored by the HYDRALAB+ Transnational Access Program, in which a stretch of a rubble-mound breakwater was built at the wave-current basin of the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) to assess the structure behavior. Four scan surveys were conducted using a Faro Focus 3D laser scan, as well as a ToF sensor. Those surveys were carried out before and after two test series, in order to evaluate the eroded volume and profile evolution.

Neste trabalho é efetuada a validação do protótipo To-SEAlert para o porto da Ericeira. Para a validação dos resultados do modelo SWAN foram utilizados os dados de duas boias situadas ao largo da Nazaré e para a validação das previsões do sistema de cálculo do grau de risco foram simuladas as depressões Elsa e Fabien (ocorridas em dezembro de 2019) e que foram responsáveis por fortes danos na cabeça do molhe do porto da Ericeira. Verificou-se uma boa concordância entre os dados das boias e os resultados do modelo SWAN, tendo no entanto o modelo reproduzido melhor a direção média e a altura significativa do que o período de pico. Relativamente aos valores de galgamento, os resultados obtidos na simulação das depressões Elsa e Fabien estiveram em concordância com os valores referidos na literatura como causadores de danos nas estruturas.

This work aims to determine the exploitable wave energy resource at six potential sites, located in the Azores, Madeira and Sines breakwater city harbours. For that purpose, the thirdgeneration wave model SWAN is used to estimate the sea-wave conditions over the last 40 years. Boundary conditions of the sea states and wind fields are provided by the climate reanalysis datasets (ERA5). Using those results as inputs to the SWAN model, the sea-states were propagated shoreward, in order to estimate and analyse the wave climate conditions in the regions of interest. By combining the average energy flux per unit-length of wave front and the probability of occurrence of each sea state, the average exploitable annual energy per unit length of wave crest can be computed. The variability of this energy flux is described, since it is of fundamental importance for the efficiency of the Wave Energy Converters (WEC).

Former investigations on wave run-up and overtopping of (impermeable and permeable) coastal structures aimed at quantifying the influence of oblique waves on mean overtopping discharge, water layer thickness and velocities by developing empirical formulas of a reduction factor for wave obliquity,

In 2017, the RODBreak experiment was conducted. The experiment aimed at characterizing wave run-up, overtopping and damage in rubble-mound breakwaters. The reason for these experiments was the huge impact that climate can have on maritime structures, particularly in rubble mound breakwaters. In fact, the forecast sea level rise associated with more frequent and severe storms will have consequences either on the increase of wave runup, wave overtopping or on damage on existent structures since they were not design for those extreme values. However, for those climate change scenarios, little is known about the actual failure probability of such structures.Within this framework, a stretch of a rubble-mound breakwater was built in a wave basin. Under extreme wave conditions, with different incident wave angles (from 40° to 90°), a total of 49 tests were performed. Each test had different testing parameters, such as significant wave height (Hs), peak period (Tp) and wave direction. Also, for each test, different types of measurements were considered. Incident sea waves were measured with 3 arrays of 6 acoustic wave probes each as well as with isolated acoustic wave probes and 5 Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADV

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