Design of Breakwaters

BY
Dr. Nagi M. Abdelhamid
Department of Irrigation and Hydraulics
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University
2013

Purpose for construction Breakwater

A breakwater is a structure made of natural

stone or concrete elements which gives
shelter to a shoreline, harbour, anchorage, or
basin from the direct impact of incoming
waves.
To provide a safe, suitable accommodation for
ship refuge, supplies and transfer of cargo.
Protected navigation channel
Prevent deposition in entrance channel
Prevent erosion inside the harbour

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Nagi Abdelhamid
Port Dr.
Said
East Port
Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Port
Said Port
Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Alexandria Port

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

North Alsukhna Port

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Tartous Syria

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Nagi Abdelhamid
ShinasDr.
port
Oman
Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Marina
at Beirut
Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Requirement: limit overtopping and transmission

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Port and Marina at Beirut

Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid
Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Requirements: acces (harbour workers, traffic, oil piping)

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

Requirements: quay facilities (access, warehouses, sheds)

Durres Port (Albania)

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Breakwaters - Problem definition

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San Stefano Marina

and Private beach
Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid
Breakwater design

Breakwater Types
1- Permenent breakwater
Rubble Mound Breakwaters
Vertical Wall Breakwaters
Vertical composite type

2- Temporary breakwater
Peneumatic and hydraulic breakwater
Floating Breakwaters

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Permanent breakwater
Rubble mound and vertical breakwaters.

Rubble mound breakwater

Vertical composite type

breakwater

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Vertical
type breakwater
Dr. Nagi
Abdelhamid
Breakwater design

Rubble Mound Breakwater

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Rubble mound breakwater

A rubble mound breakwater normally
consists of a core of small size rock covered
with large [heavy] rocks or concrete
elements. This outer layer is called the
armour layer. An under-layer of rock is
provided between the core and the armour
layer.
Outside layer large enough to resist wave
action.
Inside layer small enough to prevent
removal of nativeDr. Nagi
fine
material in between.
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Abdelhamid
Breakwater design

Advantages of Rubble mound breakwater:

Failure of the armour layer is not sudden
but gradually;
It allows high energy dissipation due to its
slope and transmission through porous of
mound;
It can be used for weak soil;
Easy maintenance and construction;
Small wave reflection;
Minimum overtopping less than Vertical
Breakwater.
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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid
Breakwater design

Rubble Mound Breakwater

breakwater
types

Rubble mound
breakwater

Advantages
1- Suitable for irregular bottom

2-Suitable for weak soil

(distributed load)
3- Progressive damage
4- Low toe scour
5-Simpler construction
6-Simpler maintenance

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Disadvantages
1- Required material increases
rapidly with increased water
depth
2- High maintenance cost
3- Large base cuts into basin
area

Cross sections of the breakwater

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Vertical Wall Breakwaters - Types

breakwaters with vertical

concrete block
breakwater
types

breakwaters with vertical

R.C. Wall (caisson)

Advantages

1- Material savings
2-control water depth clearly
vertical breakwater
defined
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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid
Breakwater design

Disadvantages
1-Requireds firm Soil
2- High Construction
requirements
3-Repair difficult

Composite Breakwaters
concrete superstructure founded on a rubble substructure.

The caisson ( or concrete blocks) is placed on a high

rubble foundation.

composite
breakwater
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1- More Complicated
1- Suitable for deeper water construction
with less firm soil
2- More Susceptible to breaking
Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid
waves
Breakwater design

Vertical Wall Breakwaters - Types

TYPES (continued)
Semi-circular caisson
Well suited for shallow water
situations with intensive
wave breaking
Due to the dissipation of
energy both the wave forces
on the caisson and the wave
reflection are reduced

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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design

Vertical Wall Breakwaters - Types

Perforated front wall
The front wall is perforated by
holes or slots with a wave
chamber behind.

Due to the dissipation of energy

both the wave forces on the
caisson and the wave reflection
are reduced
Dieppe (France)
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Dr. Nagi Abdelhamid

Breakwater design