In this paper,based on the linear wave theory,the interaction of short-crested waves with a concentric dual cylindrical system with a partially porous outer cylinder is studied by using the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM),which is a novel semi-analytical method with the advantages of combining the finite element method (FEM)with the boundary element method (BEM).The whole solution domain is divided into one unbounded sub-domain and one bounded sub-domain by the exterior cylinder.By weakening the governing differential equation in the circumferential direction,the SBFEM equations for both domains can be solved analytically in the radial direction.Only the boundary on the circumference of the exterior porous cylinder is discretized with curved surface finite elements.Meanwhile,by introducing a variable porous-effect parameter G,non-homogeneous materials caused by the complex configuration of the exterior cylinder are modeled without additional efforts.Comparisons clearly demonstrate the excellent accuracy and computational efficiency associated with the present SBFEM.The effects of the wide range wave parameters and the structure configuration are examined.This parametric study will help determine the various hydrodynamic effects of the concentric porous cylindrical structure.