Caisson design for high storm conditions

This preliminary investigation by HR Wallingford examines how the overall crest level of a caisson structure used as a seawall to front a reclamation in relatively exposed conditions may be lowered, and how the resultant overtopping discharge can be controlled and efficiently drained back to sea. The study pre-selects a cross section and test conditions in order to perform 2D physical hydraulic model testing in order to measure overtopping performance and examine the influence on results on the positioning of crest elements. For the highest incident waves the crest level on the front face of the caisson is seen to govern the trajectory of the resultant overtopping flow.