Optimization of Openings for Water Renewal in a Harbour Basin
G. Fountoulis and C. Memos
In designing a harbour, not only protection against waves but also the quality of the basins’ water should be considered. Providing openings across breakwaters is often a simple measure to counteract the decline of water quality. Optimal design can be achieved by taking into account two basic yet contradicting criteria, i.e. the water renewal and the wave disturbance inside the harbour. Quantifying water renewal and the associated wave disturbance can be achieved through mathematical models. In this paper, a methodology for the optimization of gap layouts in a harbour is proposed. This is applied on a typical harbour, where several layouts regarding location and number of openings are examined and useful conclusions are drawn.