This research identified the types of wave breaker on a non-overtoppable, smooth and impermeable 1:10 slope under regular waves. Experimental tests were carried out in the Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction Flume of the Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (University of Granada). Using the experimental space [log(h/L)–log(H/L)] and the alternate slope similarity parameter [χ = log (h/L H/L)], a complete set of breaker types was identified. Four types of wave breaker were then added to Galvin’s classification. Our results showed that the value of the Iribarren number was not sufficient to predict the expected type of wave breaker on the slope. Except for spilling and early plunging breakers, no biunivocal relationship was found between Ir and the type of breaker. The data obtained in the physical model were further enriched with the results of the flow characteristics and the wave energy transformation coefficients obtained with the IH-2VOF numerical model on a 1:10 impermeable slope. This research study, presented in this paper, showed that the Iribarren number is not a convenient wave breaking similarity parameter.

The objective of this research was to analyze the progression of breaker types on plane impermeable slopes. This study used dimensional analysis to demonstrate the relative water depth is a key explanatory quantity. The dominant breaker types depend on the incident wave characteristics at the foot of the slope. Accordingly, it is possible to combine values of H, T, and m. The physical experiments of Galvin, recent numerical results, and new experiments, performed on an impermeable 1:10 slope, were used to verify the result. It was thus possible to obtain the progression of breaker types in different sequences of pairs of combined wave H and T values. Once a sequence is defined, the expected progression of breaker types is predictable, and is well approximated by the log‐transform of the alternate similarity parameter. Since the classification of breaker types is discontinuous, the data assigned to each type were placed in horizontal lines, based on the value of log(χ). Given that the breaking of a wave train on a slope should be considered a continuous process, the location of some data was corrected to satisfy this assumption. There is thus a functional relationship between the sets of the experimental space and of the breaker types. This research also derives the non‐dimensional energy dissipation on the slope, considering the wave‐reflected energy flux on the slope. It is proportional to a dimensionless bulk dissipation coefficient which depends on the breaker type and, therefore, on the value of χ at the toe of the slope.

The main function of a breakwater is dissipating wave energy. The breakwater dissipates energy by means of three mechanisms: (1) wave breaking over the slope; (2) wave propagation through the secondary layers and porous core; (3) interaction with the main armor layer. A revised dimensional analysis shows that relative water depth, h/L, and wave steepness, H/L, are key factors of breakwater performance. The product of (h/L) (HI/L) (hereinafter named as , alternate slope similarity parameter) can be applied to quantify the reflected and transmitted energy coefficients and the dissipation rate (Daz-Carrasco et al., 2020) and to identify the type of wave breaking and the domains of wave energy transformation (Moragues et al., 2020). The aim of this work is to analyze the dissipation term and its relation with the alternate slope similarity parameter , as well as correlate the flow characteristics (run-up, rundown) with the type of wave breaking and the bulk dissipation. For that purpose, former data (Clavero et al. 2020) and data from new tests have been analyzed. Whereas it is not clear that the use of different experimental techniques will give the same results in the laboratory, three different techniques for sea states selection have been taken into account in the new tests: (1) keeping constant h/L; (2) keeping constant H/L or Ir; and (3) varying h/L and H/L.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/oMZ05U0igCs

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