Wave Loads on Emerged Breakwater Crown Walls, a Physical Model Study

In this study loading characteristics of rubble mound breakwater crown walls are investigated. This is done using a 2D physical model, testing for overall stability (through sliding) and temporal & spatial distributions of pressure along the face and base of the crown wall. A variety of wave conditions and geometries is used, with special...

Numerical estimation of wave loads on crest walls on top of rubble mound breakwaters using OpenFOAM

The design of hydraulic structures like breakwaters and crest walls is often based on empirical formulations, physical models test, numerical models and a fair amount of expert judgement. Each technique has its own pros and cons. The main limitation of the empirical formulas is that often they have to be applied outside their range of validity....

Investigation of crown wall stability on top of rubble mound structures with OpenFOAM®

In the present study the stability of crown wall elements on top of a rubble mound breakwaters is investigated. The first step was conducting a literature review, in order to identify knowledge gaps. It was found that current design methods do not take the freeboard of the crown wall into account when calculating the vertical force acting on it....

Experimental research into the effect of freeboard on the stability of a crown wall on a rubble mound breakwater

A crown wall is a gravity based L- shaped concrete structure on top of a rubble mound breakwater. Functions of a crown wall are: reduction of wave overtopping, enable transport on the breakwater and placement of pipelines on top of the flat surface. Marine contractor Van Oord was awarded to extend a breakwater with a crown wall on top, located...

Stability of a Crown Wall on a Breakwater: A refinement of existing design formulae

This thesis investigates the stability of a crown wall situated above SWL (Still Water Level) on top of a rubble mound breakwater. Crown walls are concrete super structures implemented commonly to provide a flat surface for pipelines and to make the breakwater accessible for vehicles. The vertical distance between SWL and the bottom of the crown...

Wave overtopping reduction by seadike crown-walls in Vietnam

Extensive laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate wave overtopping on seadikes with (vertical) crown-walls in Vietnam. It is shown that the wave overtopping reduction by walls is inadequately, although rather complexly, described by TAW-2002. A new approach has been developed, which can straightforwardly be incorporated in the...

Experimental study of wave forces on rubble mound breakwater crown walls

This paper has two main objectives: (1) to describe the experimental work carried out in order to verify the theoretical method from Martin (1995) for the calculation of wave forces on crown walls and (2) to show some results from field and lab measurements and compare these data to calculations from several analytical methods. The Principe de...