What is "Wave Brake"?

A floating breakwater system for waterfront & marina protection.

“Wave Brake” is a scientifically designed system to not only serve as a wave barrier but also to reduce the wave forces and mitigate the traditional “Bounce Back” effects experienced with rigid barrier concepts.

Typical “cube” showing the multi facets and surfaces that contribute to generating the wave force turbulence.

The system is assembled from specially shaped modules or “cubes” about 2 Ft x 2 Ft x
2 Ft overall dimensions. They are positioned in a configuration that resembles a three (3) dimensional checkerboard. Alternate positions are vacant and form cavities.

These cavities generate turbulence in the flowing waters and in turn reduce the wave force and magnitude by the resulting resonator effect. Depending on the size of the waves, the cross sectional area of the system might be increased or decreased.

The modules or cubes are rotary molded of LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene).  It can be offered in a variety of colors based on user preference. We have offered blue with an Ultraviolet Light Inhibitor for the upper cubes and the more common black for the submerged cubes.

This material is extremely tough in cold or heat and is not brittle. The finished wall thickness is a minimum of ¼ Inch and produces a rugged long life product (estimated at 20- 25 years). Weight of an individual "cube" when dry is about 14-15 pounds. The material in the modules is environmentally friendly and is not known to release chemicals harmful to the environment or marine life.

The cubes have “ears” on all eight (8) corners. Long life synthetic fiber rope is strung through holes in the ears to allow stringing together sections of the full assembly. This multi-string approach is much like stringing beads for a necklace.

Other variations of the “Base Line” design can be configured to suit the particular environmental requirements of the site. One (1) example might be closely passing deep deep draft vessels such as catamarans or ocean going ships. In these instances, the system may need to be deeper to control the subsurface wave action.

Typical “Base Line” 2-3-2 configuration (plus one extra row on bottom). The top layer has two (2) parallel rows of intermittent spaced cubes. The middle layer has three (3) parallel rows of intermittent spaced cubes and the lower layer has two (2) rows.

Floating breakwater systems typically float with the upper 1/3 of height above the calm water surface and the lower 2/3 below the surface. Nominally, the widest layer floats with the upper edge about 2 inches above the water surface and the remainder below. The above water cubes which control the visible waves remain air filled and fully buoyant. The below water cubes free flood and control the subsurface waves. LLDPE has a specific gravity slightly less that fresh water and will always float at or near the water surface and not sink to the bottom.

Example of 3-4-3-2 configuration

 

Launching an assembled Wave Brake section using a locally available boat trailer.

Wave Brake sections can be outfitted with Warning Signs or Lights to suit local regulatory requirements.

The system floats near the water surface to control the primary wave action. It does not extend to the lake bottom or sea floor or interfere with normal marine life in the water column.

The floating system is held in position with mooring lines and anchors to resist the oncoming wave forces. A lesser number of mooring lines and anchors are positioned on the leeward side of the system to maintain relative position during slack weather conditions or reduced water levels.

For normal tidal or seasonal water level variations, a simple catenary mooring system with locally made concrete clump weight anchors is adequate. For greater water level variations, it may be advisable to add mid length weights to the mooring lines to reduce the slack and maintain tighter control of the position.

Applications with considerable water level variations will require more complex moorings. The more common system uses manual or electric driven winches with wire ropes and periodic, possibly daily adjustment to compensate for water level variations. In recent years, a self regulating system has been introduced to the marine market. This system is typically site specific engineered by the supplier and uses something that in principle resembles Bungee Cords. Within their water level variation capabilities, the mooring lines stretch or contract to maintain the position of the floating object (breakwater system, floating dock, anchored vessel, etc.). There are at least two (2) known suppliers of this type mooring system.

The Wave Brake system is most commonly recommended for floating breakwater or wave barrier applications. Less sophisticated variations of the system may also be used for floating security barriers or for lines of demarcation around swimming areas, etc.

Another mooring system uses pilings positioned at selected intervals. The Wave Brakes sections are attached to "Slip Rings" which slide up and down on the pilings with changes of water level.
 

Lake Okanagon, British Columbia A Test Demonstration System has been installed at Lake Okanagon in British Columbia. The system is fully instrumented to quantify the wave magnitudes on both the windward and leeward (upstream and downstream) side of the "Wave Brake". At the time of installation the lake waters were very calm. When winter weather arrives the wind and wave action will increase substantially and the wave protection capabilities of the system will be demonstrated. At this point we are waiting for winter weather.

 

 

For a "Cost Free" - "No Obligation" evaluation of your particular location, please contact us at  sales@wavebraakker.com.