Wave flume experiments and results on piling up and overtopping for low crested structures

Results derived by experiments carried out in a wave flume equipped with a recirculation system, generating regular and irregular waves, are presented. The analysis allows to distinguish between filtration and return flows over submerged structures and shows that both such flows are almost linearly proportional to piling up and influenced by the presence of waves. Inshore directed overtopping for submerged structures has been measured for the first time and tools for its prediction are given.