Packing and voids for rock armour in breakwaters

Stewart, T. and Newberry, S. and Latham, J-P. and Simm, J.D. (2003) Packing and voids for rock armour in breakwaters. Technical Report. HR Wallingford.

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Abstract

This report described a DETR-funded study conducted by HR Wallingford. The study was concerned with rock armouring, as widely used on coastal defence structures and breakwaters throughout the UK. Although there are well established procedures in place for designing such armouring, they have been based largely on observations made of bulk-placed rocks. In practice, rocks can be individually placed and packed together to a greater or lesser degree. The current design procedures do not fully take into account of such placement methods. The intention of the study was to investigate the effects of rock placement on the properties of armour layers and to develop methods of predicting those properties. Investigating the geometry and performance of armour layers formed by individually placed stones was the specific objectives of the study. The armour layer geometry was investigated by the construction of test panels in the field and in the laboratory. The scale models were used to investigate the influence of rock shape and placement methods on the layer geometry. The hydraulic performance of the armour layers was investigated by physical hydraulic models conducted in a 2D flume. The stability of the layers under wave attack and their ability to dissipate wave energy were the two aspects of hydraulic performance considered.

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