Breakwater: Are Structures That

BREAKWATER
Are structures that near the coasts as part of coastal management or to protect an anchorage from the effects
of both weather and longshore drift.
A. PURPOSES
1. Reduce intensity of wave action in inshore waters

2. Provide safe harbourage
3. May be designed to protect gently sloping beach to reduce coastal erosion.
B. TYPES
1. Rubble Mound
 Use of structural voids to dissipate the wave energy.
 Used for protection of harbours and beaches against wave action.
 Also used for protection of navigation channels and beaches against sediment
transportation
 Componensts
Core - The purpose of the core is to prevent wave transmission into harbour; hence
the core material is not too coarse.
Toe - Toe functions as the foundation for the armour layer. It also may catch
armour units displaced from armour layer; The Toe is normally constructed of
large stones of quarry run or the most coarse filter layer.
Filter Layer - The objective of the filter layer (under layer) is to prevent the core
material from being washed out through armour layer. It is built of quarry run.
Armour layer -The purpose of armour layer is to protect the core from direct wave
attacks by the dissipation of wave energy. Armour layers are built of large rocks or
larger concrete armour units.
Superstructure -The superstructure is used either in order to reduce the crest
elevation or to reduce wave overtopping, or as a roadway for traffic or pipelines.
The superstructure is usually constructed of concrete
2. Caisson
 Typically have vertical sides and are usually erected where it is desirable to berth one or
more vessels on the inner face of the breakwater.
 They use the mass of the caisson and the fill within it to resist the overturning forces
applied by waves hitting them.
 They are relatively expensive to construct in shallow water, but in deeper sites they can
offer a significant saving over revetment breakwaters.
 An additional rubble mound is sometimes placed in front of the vertical structure in order
to absorb wave energy and thus reduce wave reflection and horizontal wave pressure on
the vertical wall.
3. Wave Absorbing Caisson

 Similar to caisson but more sophisticated concept, including various types of perforation
in the front wall.
 Such structures have been used successfully in the offshore oil-industry, but also on
coastal projects requiring rather low-crested structures
4. Wave attenuator
 The wave attenuator ultimately works by reflecting the wave energy and dissipating the
kinetic energy from the incident wave.
 The wave induced flow passes the structure and waves break over the top if the structure.
 If the incident wave period is close to the resonant period of the break water mooring
system, the wave dissipation is increased.
 Types of wave attenator
Box Breakwater - They are made from a concrete exterior with either a hollow or
polystyrene interior. The design of this attenuator is limited by a 25 ft width and 5 ft
draft.
Advantages -Proven performance in moderate

wave climate
-50 year design life Disadvantages
-Allows pedestrian access for
fishing and temporary boat mooring -High cost maintenance if damaged
-Simple shape to build may need towing to dry dock
-Connectors can be a problem if not
adequately designed.
Mat Breakwater - Mat breakwaters are made out recycled tires. Maze, Goodyear and
Wave-Guard tires have been constructed and tested. The tires interlock and float on the
oceans surface to reduce wave height.
Advantages Disadvantages
-Low cost -Lack of buoyancy (foam is usually

-Easily removed needs to be added)
-Constructed with unskilled labour -Design life is only 15-20 years
-Lower anchor load that box -Only effective in mild waves
breakwaters -Unappealing aesthetic
Tethered Breakwater - Made out of plastic buoys in order to reduce the height of the
wave. It work in a similar way to the mat breakwaters but is made from plastic bouts
rather than tires.
Advantages Disadvantages
-Easily removed -More expensive than mat

-Low anchorage needed breakwater
-Good aesthetic -Can't be used by pedestrians
Deadweight Anchors - Deadweight anchors are commonly used to secure floating wave
attenuators. This system is usually composed of a concrete block that rests on the lake
bottom and is heavy enough that it will not slide. The weight needed for the deadweight
anchors for a floating wave attenuator is determined by the mooring-line loads and
coefficient of soil static friction. This type of anchorage system allows the wave
attenuator to be taken out during the winter months and to not be affected by ice heave
forces.

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BREAKWATER

1. Reduce intensity of wave action in inshore waters

3. Wave Absorbing Caisson

Advantages -Proven performance in moderate

-Low cost -Lack of buoyancy (foam is usually

-Easily removed -More expensive than mat

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