Effects of mooring configuration on wave attenuation of an arc-plate dual-pontoon floating breakwater

This study presents an arc-plate dual-pontoon floating breakwater and assesses its wave attenuation performance via wave flume experiments using catenary mooring and vertical guide pile configurations. Conducted at a 1:14 model-to-prototype scale with wave heights 6–18 cm and periods 0.78–1.60 s, the tests show that overtopping is avoided when HAP/Hs ≥ 1.4, while peak attenuation occurs at HAP/Hs ≈ 0.82 with minimal transmission. At WAP/L ≈ 0.34, energy dissipation occurs primarily through wave breaking and turbulence, yielding Kt = 0.48, indicating effective short-wave reduction (periods < 1.0 s). Switching to a vertical guide pile configuration enhanced wave reflection, increasing the reflection coefficient (Kr) by 2.34 times under 50-year return period conditions, although Kt remained largely unchanged. These results inform the optimization of floating breakwater designs for integration with offshore photovoltaic systems, offering a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to fixed breakwaters in deep water. The arc-plate dual-pontoon design advances wave energy management, supporting sustainable offshore renewable energy deployment.