The reduction of wave overtopping and wave force by a porous wave barrier was investigated to clarify hydraulic performance of such a coastal structure. Two-dimensional model tests for a wave barrier mounted on a seawall were carried out to examine variations in regime of wave overtopping, mean overtopping rate and maximum wave force acting on the barrier with changing barrier parameter and incident wave intensity. The test results show that the porous wave barrier can reduce the overtopping rate and wave force in different overtopping regimes effectively. These reduction effects of the barrier are mainly governed by the porosity of barrier and several wave parameters. Their reduction ratios between the presence and absence of the barrier are influenced by variations in the wave run-up height induced by barrier installation.
