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Rubble Mound Breakwater Design
Layout Options for Rubble Mound Breakwaters and Jetties
General Description
Design Wave
Water Levels and Datums
Design Parameters
Design Concept/ Procedure
Structure Elevation, Run-up and Overtopping
Crest/Crown Width
Armor Unit Size and Stability
Underlayer Design
Bedding and Filter Design
Toe Structures
Low Crested Breakwaters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rubble Mound Breakwater Design
Layout Options for Rubble Mound Breakwaters and Jetties
1. Attached or Detached.
a. Jetties usually attached to stabilize an inlet or eliminate channel shoaling.
b. Breakwaters attached or detached.
i. If the harbor is on the open coastline, predominant wave crests approach
parallel to the coastline, a detached offshore breakwater might be the best
option.
ii. An attached breakwater extended from a natural headland could be used to
protect a harbor located in a cove.
iii. A system of attached and detached breakwaters may be used.
iv. An advantage of attached breakwaters is ease of access for construction,
operation, and maintenance; however, one disadvantage may be a negative
impact on water quality due to effects on natural circulation.
2. Overtopped or Non-overtopped.
a. Overtopped:
crown elevation allows larger waves to wash across the crest
wave heights on the protected side are larger than for a non-overtopped structure.
6. Deflector Vanes. In many instances where jetties are used to help maintain a navigation
channel, currents will tend to propagate along the ocean-side of the jetty and deposit their
sediment load in the mouth of the channel. Deflector vanes can be incorporated into the
jetty design to aid in turning the currents and thus help to keep the sediments away from
the mouth of the channel. Position, length, and orientation of the vanes can be optimized
in a model investigation.
7. Arrowhead Breakwaters. When a breakwater is constructed parallel to the coastline
navigation conditions at the navigation opening may be enhanced by the addition of
arrowhead breakwaters. Prototype experience with such structures however has shown
them to be of questionable benefit in some cases.
General Description
Multi-layer design. Typical design has at least three major layers:
1. Outer layer called the armor layer (largest units, stone or specially shaped concrete
armor units)
2. One or more stone underlayers
3. Core or base layer of quarry-run stone, sand, or slag (bedding or filter layer below)
Design Wave
1. Usually H1/3, but may be H1/10 to reduce repair costs (Pacific NW) (USACE
recommends H1/10)
2. The depth limited breaking wave should be calculated and compared with the
unbroken storm wave height, and the lesser of the two chosen as the design wave.
(Breaking occurs in water in front of structure)
3. Use Hb/hb ~ 0.6 to 1.1
4. For variable water depth, design in segments
Arrowhead Breakwaters
Breaking Wave Considerations (SPM, Chapter 7)
The design breaker height (Hb) depends on the depth of water some distance seaward
from the structure toe where the wave first begins to break. This depth varies with tidal
stage.
Therefore, the design breaker height depends on the critical design depth at the structure
toe, the slope on which the structure is built, incident wave steepness, and the distance
traveled by the wave during breaking.
Assume that the design wave plunges on the structure
Hb =
ds
m p
Water Levels and Datums. Both maximum and minimum water levels are needed for the
designing of breakwaters and jetties. Water levels can be affected by storm surges,
seiches, river discharges, natural lake fluctuations, reservoir storage limits, and ocean
tides.
High-water levels are used to estimate maximum depth-limited breaking wave heights
and to determine crown elevations.
Low-water levels are generally needed for toe design.
a. Tide Predictions, The National Ocean Service (NOS) publishes tide height predictions
and tide ranges. Figure 2-l shows spring tide ranges for the continental United States.
Published tide predictions are sufficient for most project designs; however, prototype
observations may be required in some instances.
b. Datum Planes. Structural features should be referred to appropriate low-water datum
planes. The relationship of low-water datum to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum
(NGVD) will be needed for vertical control of construction. The low-water datum for the
Atlantic and Gulf Coasts is being converted to mean lower low water (MLLW). Until the
conversion is complete, the use of mean low water (MLW) for the Atlantic and Gulf
Coast low water datum (GCLWD) is acceptable. Other low-water datums are as follows:
Pacific Coast: Mean lower low water (MLLW)
Great Lakes: International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD)
Rivers: River, low-water datum planes (local)
Reservoirs: Recreation pool levels
Design Parameters
h
hc
R
ht
B
Bt
b
t
W
crown/cap
crest
armor layer, W
R
DHW
hc
SWL
ht
first underlayer
b
second underlayer
toe
core/base
Bt
Overtopping occurs if the freeboard (R) is less than the set-up + Ru.
Generally neglect wave setup for sloped structures
Freeboard may be zero if overtopping is allowed. Freeboard may also be set to
achieve a given allowed overtopping.
Run-up and run-down are functions of , permeability, porosity and surface
roughness of the slope.
Effects of Permeability - Flow fields induced in permeable structures by wave action
result in reduced run-up and run-down, but increased destabilizing forces (see
diagram).
SWL
Run-up = Ru
Run-down = Rd
Run-down
SWL
SWL
Run-up may be determined by surf similarity parameter (m) and core permeability
(Abbot and Price, 1994)
m = tan
H s Lm
water assumed) Lm =
gTm2
a
1.12
0.96
0.86
0.77
0.47
b
1.34
1.17
1.05
0.94
0.60
c
0.55
0.46
0.44
0.42
0.34
d
2.58
1.97
1.68
1.45
0.82
Reduction factors are applied to the Run-up formula to account for roughness, oblique
waters and overtopping
R uR H S = (R u H S )product( i )
Reduction factor ()
Smooth impermeable (including smooth
concrete and asphalt)
1 layer of stone rubble on impermeable base
Gravel
Rock rip-rap with thickness > 2D50
1.0
0.8
0.7
0.5-0.6
Run-down is typically 1/3 to of the run-up and may be used to determine the minimum
downward extension of the main armor and a possible upper level for introducing a berm
with reduced armor size.
Designing to an Allowable Overtopping - Overtopping depends on relative freeboard,
R/Hs, wave period, wave steepness, permeability, porosity, and surface roughness.
Usually overtopping of a rubble structure such as a breakwater or jetty can be tolerated
only if it does not cause damaging waves behind the structure.
Rm* =
R
Hs
H
sm
, where s m = s
2
Lm
1:1
0.008
20
1:1.5
0.010
20
1:2
0.013
22
1:3
0.016
32
1:4
0.019
47
1/ 3
W
B = 3k , where W = median weight of armor unit, a = unit weight
a
of armor, k = layer thickness coefficient (see Table 2)
Wave Transmission
Wave transmission behind rubble mound breakwaters is caused by wave
regeneration due to overtopping and wave penetration through voids in the
breakwater. Affected by:
Crest elevation
Crest width
seaside and lee-side face slopes
Rubble size
Breakwater porosity
Wave height, wave length and water depth
Neglecting inertia forces, balance weight of each armor unit (FG) with
drag and lift forces induced by the waves (FD, FL)
FG
g ( a w )D
1
g (SG 1)D (SG 1)D
=
=
2
2
FD + FL
H
Ns
wv
gH
H a
Ns =
(SG 1) W
1/ 3
aH 3
W=
(SG 1)3 N s3
Experiments related the stability number to the face slope and armor unit
shape
1/ 3
N s = (K D cot )
Combining gives Hudson's equation for minimum required armor unit
weight
W=
aH 3
K D (SG 1) cot
3
waves break, armor units in the primary cover layer should be extended down the
entire slope.
The above-mentioned ratios between the weights of armor units in the primary
and secondary cover layers are applicable only when stone units are used in the
entire cover layer for the same slope. When pre-cast concrete units are used in the
primary cover layer, the weight of stone in the other layers should be based on the
equivalent weight of stone armor.
For example:
tetrapods armor design
conditions: 20 foot non-breaking wave attack on a structure trunk
a = 150 lbf/ft3 for tetrapods SG = 150/64 = 2.34
slope = lV:2H
KD = 8.0 for tetrapod armor
KD = 4.0 for rough angular stone
(
150)20 3
for tetrapod: W =
=
= 15.6 tons
3
K D (SG 1) cot 8(2.34 1)2
(165)20 3 = 21 tons
for stone armor: W =
4(2.58 1)2
aH 3
The secondary cover layer from -1.5H to the bottom should be as thick as
or thicker than the primary cover layer and sized for W = 21 tons.
Armor layer thickness (t) use to calculate size of layer
W
t = nk
a
1/ 3
Na
= nk 1
A
100 W
Table 1, Stability Coefficient, KD (breaking occurs before the wave reaches the structure)
Structure Trunk
(b)
KD
Non-breaking
wave
Structure Head
KD
Breaking Non-breaking
Wave
wave
Slope
Armor units
n(a)
Placement
Breaking
Wave
Quarry stone
Smooth rounded
Smooth rounded
Rough angular
2
>3
1
Random
Random
Random (d)
1.2
1.6
(d)
2.4
3.2
2.9
1.2
1.4
(d)
1.9
2.3
2.3
1.5 to 3.0
(c)
(c)
Rough angular
Random
2.0
4.0
1.9
1.6
1.3
3.2
2.8
2.3
1.5
2.0
3.0
Rough angular
Rough angular
Parallelepiped (f)
>3
2
2
Special (e)
Special (e)
Random
2.2
5.8
7.0 - 20.0
4.5
7.0
8.5 - 24.0
2.1
5.3
--
4.2
6.4
--
(c)
(c)
(c)
Tetrapod and
Quadripod
Random
7.0
8.0
5.0
4.5
3.5
6.0
5.5
4.0
1.5
2.0
3.0
Tribar
Random
9.0
10.0
8.3
7.8
6.0
9.0
8.5
6.5
1.5
2.0
3.0
Dolos
Random
15.0 (g)
31.0 (g)
8.0
7.0
16.0
14.0
2.0 (h)
3.0
Modified Cube
Random
6.5
7.5
--
5.0
(c)
Hexapod
Random
8.0
9.5
5.0
7.0
(c)
Toskanes
Random
11.0
22.0
--
--
(c)
Tribar
Uniform
12.0
15.0
7.5
9.5
(c)
Quarrystone (KRR)
Graded angular
--
Random
2.2
2.5
--
--
--
cot
(a)
NOTE : Breaking wave stability coefficients for stone and dolos were developed using a 1V:10H foreslope.
Layer Thickness
Coefficient, k
1.00
1.00
1.04
0.95
1.15
1.10
1.02
1.13
1.03
0.94
Porosity
Percent
38
37
50
49
47
47
54
47
52
56
Underlayers Design
Armor Layer provides structural stability against external forces (waves)
Underlayers prevent core or base material from escaping.
Requirements:
1. Prevent fine material from leaching out.
2. Allow for sufficient porosity to avoid excessive pore pressure build-up
inside the breakwater that could lead to instability or liquefaction in
extreme cases
Note: requirements are in conflict, Eng. must provide an optimum solution
Based on spherical shape geometry , core material cannot escape the cover
layer if the diameter ratio of the cover material (D) to the core material (d) is
less than six. (i.e. D/d < 6)
For sorted material (e.g. quarry stones) under static (calm) load :
Under dynamic load (i.e. wave forces), more restrictive rules apply:
D15
<5
d 85
D50
W
2.5 to 3 , which gives
15 to 25 (assumes W D3)
d 50
wbase
Recommended Sizes (see diagram)
Layer
Primary Armor Layer
First Underlayer
Second Under Layer
Base/ Core Material
Weight Ratio
W/1
W/10
W/200
W/4000
Cohesive Material: May not need filter layer if foundation is cohesive material. A
layer of quarry stone may be placed as a bedding layer or apron to reduce settlement
or scour.
Coarse Gravel: Foundations of coarse gravel may not require a filter blanket.
Sand: a filter blanket should be provided to prevent waves and currents from
removing sand through the voids of the rubble and thus causing settlement.
When large quarry-stone are placed directly on a sand foundation at depths where
waves and currents act on the bottom (as in the surf zone), the rubble will settle into
the sand until it reaches the depth below which the sand will not be disturbed by the
currents. Large amounts of rubble may be required to allow for the loss of rubble
because of settlement. This, in turn, can provide a stable foundation.
D15
< 4 to 5
d 85
d85 = dia. exceeded by the coarsest 15% of the base mat'l
D15 = dia. exceeded by the coarsest 85% of the filter mat'l
(important in breakwater design)
D
To prevent pore pressure build-up: 15 > 4 to 5 (important for embankment
d15
design)
D
To maintain filter layer internal stability: 60 < 10 (i.e. well sorted material is
D10
D
preferred). Poorly sorted material is not suitable for filters 60 20
D10
(internally unstable too much washes out)
To prevent material from leaching out:
Bedding Layer should extend 5 feet horizontally beyond the toe cover stone.
Geotextile filter fabric may be used as a substitute for a bedding layer or filter blanket,
especially for bank protection structures.
When a fabric is used, a protective layer of spalls or crushed rock (7-inch
maximum to 4-inch minimum size) having a recommended minimum thickness of
2 feet should be placed between the fabric and adjacent stone to prevent puncture
of the fabric. Filter criteria should be met between the protective layer of spalls
and adjacent stone.
Advantages: uniform properties and quality.
Disadvantage: susceptible to weathering, tearing, clogging and flopping.
Toe Structures
No rigorous criteria. Design is complicated by interactions between main structure,
hydrodynamic forces and foundation soil. Design is often ad hoc or based on laboratory
testing. Toe failure often leads to major structural failure.
Functions of toe structure:
1. support the armor layer and prevent it from sliding (armor layer is subject to
waves and will tend to assume the equilibrium beach profile shape)
2. protect against scouring at the toe of the structure
3. prevent underlying material from leaching out
4. provide structural stability against circular or slip failure
EBP
weak soil
ht
H1/ 3
= f ( N s ) = 0.22
for 50% confidence level
h
(SG 1)D50
ht
H1/ 3
= 0.253
for 90% confidence level
h
(SG 1)D50
6W
assumes D50 =
1/ 3
, i.e. spherical
Scour Consideration
If no Toe Structure is used, armor layer should extend below maximum scouring
depth and the breakwater slope may require adjustment to reduce scour.
Return flow
and vortex formation
ds
Generally:
ds
= f ( ) = 0.5 to 1.0 , with 1.0 at ~ 2.7
H
The following design equations are based on preventing or minimizing scour in front of
vertical structures (Tanimoto, K., Yagyu, T., and Goda, Y., 1982)
Toe Apron Width (Bt) - width should be the maximum of Bt = 2H or Bt = 0.4h
(at least 3 stones)
Toe Stone Weight (minimum stone weight)
H3
Wmin = 3 a
3
N s (SG 1)
where Ns = stability number is the maximum of
(1 K )2 ht
1 K h
N s = 1.3 1 / 3 t + 1.8 exp 1.5
K 1/ 3 H
K H
or
Ns = 1.8
2kht
sin 2 kBt
sinh 2kht
hc
N =
*
s
H 2 / 3 L1 / 3
(SG 1)W
a
1/ 3
W=
aH 2L
(SG 1)3 (N s* )3
L is the wave length at the structure depth and is calculated using peak period (Tp)
for random waves.
AS
, where As = area of damage (see diagram) and
D502
D50 = median stone size of the breakwater
hc
= (2.1 + 0.1S )exp 0.14 N s*
h