Comparison of solitary wave overtopping characteristics between vertical and wave absorbing revetments

In this study, the wave overtopping characteristics of the solitary wave were investigated in the vertical revetment (VR) and the wave absorbing revetment (WAR) through hydraulic experiment and numerical analysis. In the case of WAR, the horizontal flow velocity significantly increased on the crest as the solitary wave passed through the inclined wave absorbing region and the flow cross-sectional area decreased. In terms of VR, the water level rose and the vertical flow velocity developed, as it was blocked by the impermeable vertical wall and the wave overtopping progressed. As a result, the WAR and VR wave overtopping rates were larger under the conditions of a relative solitary wave height of 0.272, respectively. Furthermore, the wave overtopping discharge per unit time was calculated in VR and WAR by applying the effective period of solitary waves, and a dimensionless overtopping formula for solitary waves was proposed. •Experiments and numerical analysis were conducted on solitary wave overtopping considering VR and WAR.•WAR exhibited larger overtopping discharges under the condition of ε0.272.•The cause of the difference in overtopping discharge between VR and WAR was investigated through numerical analysis.•A formula for solitary wave overtopping at the VR and WAR is proposed.