Reynolds similarity

Validating scale effects on wave loads for perforated breakwater design

A physical model at 1:35 scale overestimates the shoreward peak force coefficient by 23% compared to its prototype. That bias, validated against field measurements, stems from changes in wave transmission and vortical motion that Froude similarity alone cannot capture. Understanding drives protection. These findings give engineers a calibrated basis for extrapolating wave loads on perforated breakwaters, moving reduced-model results closer to reliable, real-world application.