Stability of rock-armoured mild slopes

Journal Article (2024)
Author(s)

Daan Jumelet (DEME)

Marcel R.A. Van Gent (Deltares, TU Delft - Coastal Engineering)

Bas Hofland (TU Delft - Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk)

C. Kuiper (Witteveen+Bos, TU Delft - Coastal Engineering)

Research Group
Coastal Engineering
Copyright
© 2024 Daan Jumelet, M.R.A. van Gent, Bas Hofland, C. Kuiper
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2023.104418
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Copyright
© 2024 Daan Jumelet, M.R.A. van Gent, Bas Hofland, C. Kuiper
Research Group
Coastal Engineering
Volume number
187
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

Physical model tests have been performed to study static stability of rock-armoured mild slopes. Current stability design formulae for steeper rock-armoured slopes focus on plunging and surging waves. Slopes of 1:6 and milder usually have more spilling breakers which decreases the load. Also, on mild slopes displaced rocks more often remain present in the wave attack zone, which increases the strength. These aspects lead to an overdesigned structure when existing formulae for steep rock-armoured slopes are used. The present wave flume tests were used to understand the processes and develop a design formula for rock-armoured mild slopes with an impermeable core. These tests were performed for statically stable rock-armoured slopes of 1:6 to 1:10. The tests confirmed that not all existing damage parameters are able to accurately describe the static stability on milder slopes. For mild slopes it is more accurate to describe the damage based on the eroded depth rather than on the eroded area or number of moved stones. In this study, a design formula and guidelines are provided for practicing engineers that design or evaluate the stability of mild rock-armoured slopes.