Hydraulic stability of cube-armored mound breakwaters in depth-limited breaking wave conditions. (1st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mares-Nasarre, Patricia; Molines, Jorge; Gómez-Martín, M. Esther; Medina, Josep R.
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 259(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-01
• Subjects: Mound breakwater -- Hydraulic stability -- Armor damage -- Depth-limited breaking wave conditions -- Breaking waves -- Cube armor; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.111845
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: Armor erosion due to wave attack has been studied intensively since it is considered the main failure mode of mound breakwaters. Cube-armored mound breakwaters in depth-limited breaking wave conditions are common in practice but have received limited attention in the literature. In this study, 2D physical tests were performed on non-overtopped double-layer randomly-placed cube-armored mound breakwater models with armor slope cotα = 1.5 and bottom slope m = 2% in breaking wave conditions. Using the experimental results, a new hydraulic stability formula was derived with a coefficient of determination R 2 = 0.85 based on a power relationship between the armor damage and the stability number and the dimensionless water depth. A lower hydraulic stability was found for the front slope of non-overtopped cube-armored structures in breaking wave conditions when compared to formulas given in the literature. Highlights: Cube-armored breakwaters in breaking conditions received limited attention in the literature. 2D physical tests on cube-armored mound breakwaters were performed in breaking conditions. A new hydraulic stability formula was derived based on a power relationship. Significant variables to describe armor damage were stability number and dimensionless water depth.