Breakwater Design for protection of floating houses in Haringvliet Region

Abstract

A floating house development project to be constructed in the coast of Hellevoetsluis, in the municipality of Voorne-Putten, is under consideration. Within a project of this nature, several aspects need to be taken into account in order to safeguard the infrastructure against additional loadings to which regular houses are not exposed to. Hydrodynamic forcing could directly or indirectly cause damage and unpleasant displacements on the houses, as they float on the waters of the Harringvliet estuary. The above can be undermined by protecting the area against waves, the most relevant loading for this site, by means of a wave wall or breakwater. By doing so, waves impacting directly on the houses are avoided; additionally calm waters behind the structure guarantee adequate condition for living facilities.