Harbor Development Study Progress Report for August-October, 1950

This report summarizes the results of the first phase of the Laboratory's current comprehensive study of harbor design. This phase comprises the study of the transmission of wave energy through, and the distribution of wave energy behind, breakwater openings. The results obtained to date relate the effect of three major variables; width of breakwater opening, direction of wave approach, and breakwater alignment, on the two quantities mentioned above. The results of this study are subject to certain limitations, notably the small number of cases studied, the idealization of harbor and breakwater configuration, and experimental error. However, the results are considered to be far more quantitative than qualitative and to be of definite usefulness and value in harbor layout and design.