Pressures on the Crown Wall of Breakwater Formed by New Armor Block KOLOS due to Regular Waves

• Published in: Journal of waterway, port, coastal, and ocean engineering port, coastal, and ocean engineering, 2013-11, Vol.139 (6), p.518-526
• Main Authors: Avaneendran, Arunjith, Sannasiraj, S. A, Vallam, Sundar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Armor; Breakwalls; Breakwaters; Buildings. Public works; Dissipation; Exact sciences and technology; Hydraulic constructions; Hydrodynamics; Marine; Oceans; Port facilities and coastal structures. Lighthouses and beacons; Technical Papers; Walls; Waterways
• ISSN: 0733-950X; 1943-5460
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000203

AbstractBreakwaters can be broadly classified into overtopping and nonovertopping structures. In the case of a nonovertopping breakwater, either the crest level is designed in consideration with the maximum run-up level or a concrete crown wall is provided at the crest on the ocean side of the breakwater to avoid or minimize overtopping. It is essential to understand the wave-induced dynamic and uplift pressures exerted on the vertical face and base slab of the crown wall to incorporate this information in the design. The recently introduced armor block KOLOS, a modified version of DOLOS, is considered for detailed investigation of its hydrodynamic characteristics. Empirical relations have been proposed for the wave-induced pressures caused by regular waves on the crown wall fronted by KOLOS through a comprehensive experimental program. The overall results, compared with a breakwater fronted by natural rocks, indicate that the KOLOS armor layer offers better wave energy dissipation and results in minimal pressures induced on its crown wall.