Exploration into the mechanisms that govern the stability of an Xbloc^{+ v1} armour unit

In this MSc thesis it is investigated how the first version of concrete armour unit Xbloc⁺, Xbloc^{+ v1}, acquires its stability. The stability mechanisms are investigated by conducting two type of physical model tests. First, 23 dry pull-out tests are done to obtain insights into the aspects and mechanisms that influence the...

Stability of Single Layer Cubes on Breakwater Rear Slopes

Breakwaters with single layer concrete armour are very commonly applied nowadays. Much research is available on the stability of single layer armour units on the seaward slope. However, rear slopes design methods for single layer armour units are rare. On rear side slopes usually similar sized units as on the seaward slope are applied. Limited...

The influence of core permeability on the stability of interlocking, single layer armour units

The permeability of a breakwater is of great importance for the stability of the armour layer. The influence of the structural permeability on the stability of rock armour units was already researched by Van der Meer using the 'notional' permeabiltiy. However, for single layer interlocking armour units the influence core permeability is rather...

Stability of Iceland type berm breakwaters

A major part of the breakwaters constructed in the world are the so-called conventional rouble mound breakwaters, which consist of a core, a filter layer and a heavy armour layer. An alternative to the conventional rouble mound breakwater is a berm breakwater. Berm breakwaters have mainly developed in two directions over the last couple of...

Armour layer stability on a bermed slope breakwater

In coastal regions where the land is sensitive to erosion, but also for harbours and ports, numerous types of defensive structures have been developed to protect it from the effects of incident waves. More recently breakwaters have been constructed which combine the stability characteristics of a conventional two-layered uniform sloped...

Breakwater stability with damaged single layer armour units

At breakwater and seawall projects at Port St Francis and Scarborough breakage of single layer interlocking armour units was observed. It is generally assumed that breakage of single layer armour units has a significant negative effect on the hydraulic stability of a rubble mound breakwater. The significant decrease of interlocking capacity and...

The influence of structural permeability on armour layer stability of rubble mound breakwaters

The first one who studied the problem of armour layer stability was Iribarren (1938). Iribarren derived stability criteria that were based on the acting physical processes on the slope of a structure. In the stability criteria of Iribarren only the influence of a few structural and hydraulic parameters were taken into account. In 1988 Van der...