  The interaction of obliquely incident surface gravity waves with a vertical
flexible permeable membrane wave barrier is investigated in the context of
three-dimensional linear wave-structure interaction theory. A general
formulation for wave interaction with permeable submerged vertical membrane is
given. The analytic solution of the physical problem is obtained by using
eigenfunction expansion method, and boundary element method has been used to
get the numerical solution. In the boundary element method, since the boundary
condition on the membrane is not known in advance, membrane motions and
velocity potentials are solved simultaneously. From the general formulation of
the submerged membrane barrier, the performance of bottom-standing,
surface-piercing and fully extended membrane wave barriers are analyzed for
various wave and structural parameters. It is found that the efficiency of the
submerged, surface-piercing and bottom-standing membrane wave barriers can be
enhanced in waves for certain design conditions. From the analysis of various
membrane configurations and parameters, it can be concluded that permeable
membrane wave barrier can function as a very effective breakwater if it is
properly designed.
