Rubble Mound Breakwater Design Example

Given:
Design Conditions
Water depth: 5.5 m
Beach slope: 1:20
Design high water: 1.7 m
Design wave Hs = 2 m
H1/10 = 2.5 m
Tm = 8 sec
Lo = 100 m
Allowable overtopping: 0.4 m3/sec/m
Armor unit: rough quarry stone

Soil data:

0m
SM
γ = 17 kN/m3
(sand)
φ = 30°
fine to medium
c=0
5.5 m loose

γ = 14 kN/m3
φ = 0°
CH
c = 50 kPa
(clay)
eo = 2.2
soft
k = 10-5 cm/s
over-consolidated
av = 3x10-3 m2/kN
Cc = 0.3

21.5 m
limestone
 B

crown/cap
ocean side
crest bay/harbor side
armor layer, W

R hc first underlayer
DHW

SWL
hb α αb
h
second underlayer
t
toe
core/base

bedding and/or filter

Bt
Assume:
Armor and underlayer material is quarry stone: γa = 2.5 t/m3
Structure slope: 1:2
Structure will be symmetric (this may be changed to reduce structure size in necessary)

Specify Design Condition:

SWL = 5.5 m, DHW = 1.7 m Æ h = 5.5 + 1.7 = 7.2 m
h = 7.2 m
Assume listed conditions are at structure toe.
Hs = H1/3 = 2 m
T = 8 sec
Lo = 100 m
2
 2π   2π   2π  
  = g  tanh  h  at h = 7.2
 T   L  L  
Lm = 62 m
Calculate depth limited breaking wave height at structure site, compare with the
unbroken storm wave height, and use the lesser of the two as the design wave
• Hb/hb ~ 0.78 Æ
at DHW: Hb = 0.78×7.2 = 5.6 m
at SWL: Hb = 0.78×5.5 = 4.3 m
• Alternate methods in CEM II-4
Both wave heights in (1) are greater than Hs Æ
waves are not breaking and design H = Hs = 2 m
H=2m
Set BW Dimensions (controlled by height & slope):
Set-up: waves are not breaking per the previous calc Æ no set-up
NOTE: there will be a set-down, but this will be neglected and considered an
added factor of safety unless required to reduce the structure size
η=0

Overtopping Discharge (CEM VI-5, pp. 19-33)

q  bR *m 
using the Owen model(Table VI-5-8): = a exp −  where
gH s Tm  γr 
R sm
R *m = is the relative freeboard
Hs 2π
H s 2π H s R Hs
• sm = = 2
Æ R *m =
Lo g Tm Hs gTm2

• from Table VI-5-8:

slope 1:2 Æ a = 0.013, b = 22
rock riprap > 2D thick Æ γr ~ 0.55
• solving:
γr  q  0.55  0 .4 
R *m = − ln  = − ln  = 0.041
b  agH s Tm  22  0.013 × 9.8 × 2 × 8 
gTm2 9.8 × 82
R = Hs R *
m = 2 × 0.041 = 1.45 m
Hs 2

Rovertop = 1.45 m

Run-up based on surf zone parameter at the structure, using CEM equation VI-5-13
• Coefficients from VI-5-5: 2% run-up Æ A = 0.96, B = 1.17, C = 0.46, D = 1.97
• (D/B)1/C = (1.97/1.17)(1/0.46) = 3.1, from above ξm = 2.7
for 1.5 < ξm ≤ (D/B)1/C R u ,i % HS = Bξ Cm
(
R u , 2% H S = BξCm = 1.17 2.7 0.46 = 1.85 )
• Reduced Run-up assume γ surface γ berm γ shallow γ wave = 0.55 × 1× 1× 1
roughness water angle

R uR H S = (R u , 2% HS )γ surface γ berm γ shallow γ wave = 1.85 × 0.55 = 1

roughness water angle

• R = Hs = 2m
Rrun-up = 2 m
 Choose the run-up requirement (purpose has not been specified, simpler)
R Hs 2 2
• actual overtopping R *m = = = 0.0565
H s gTm 2 9.8 × 82
2

 bR *m   22 × 0.0565 
q = agH s Tm exp −  = 0.013(9.8)(2 )(8) exp −  ≈ 0.2 m / sec/ m
3

 γ r   0 . 55 
R=2m
q = 0.2 m3/sec/m
Settlement: must be determined later Æ assume ρtotal = 0.1 m
ρtotal = 0.1 m
Design elevation = DHW + η + R + ρtotal = 7.2 + 0 + 2 + 0.1 = 9.3 m
h + R = 9.3 m

BW Dimension Summary:
Assumed
• structure is symmetric, α = αb
• no set-down
• no crown, hc = R
• total settlement = 0.1 m (adjust later)
h = 7.2 m
h + R = 9.3 m
tan α = 1/2

Armor Unit Design:

Assume Armor unit is rough quarry stone, 2 layers, no overtopping Æ Table VI-5-22 applies
• non-breaking waves, 0-5% damage, random placement: KD = 4
• sg = γa/γw = (2.5 t/m3)/(1 t/m3) = 2.5
γ a H3 2.5 × 23
• W50 = = = 0.74t
K D (sg − 1) cot α 4(2.5 − 1) 2
3 3

• Table VI-5-50 gives rock sizes: W ~ 0.77 t

W50 = 0.77 t
Armor thickness
• n = 2; k∆ = 1.0, P = 37% from Table VI-5-51
1/ 3 1/ 3
W  0.77 
• t = nk ∆   = 2 × 1×   = 1.4 m
 γa   2.5 
tarmor = 1.4 m
 1/ 3 1/ 3
W  0.77 
Crest width (B) (minimum n = 3): B = 3k ∆   = 3 × 1×   = 2m
 γa   2.5 
B=2m
Number of armor units per unit surface area
2/3 2/3
Na  P  γ a   2.5 
= nk ∆ 1 −   = 2 × 1× (1 − 0.37 )  = 2.8
A  100  W   0.77 
Na/A = 2.8 units/m2
Volume of armor per unit length
V
= t[B + 2(h + R )cot α] = 1.4[2 + 2 × 9.3 × 2] = 54.9
L
V/L = 54.9 m3/m
Under-layer Design:
The goal to reduce the size of the stone to at point where W/wcore ≤ 15-25, where W is the
stone in the layer covering the core. Roughly, this gives a size of ~W/4000 for the core
Æ ½ lb stones, with 2 inch diameter. If some other size is readily available, that might be
the goal. Must check to ensure the W/wcore ≤ 15-25 is met once the core over-layer is
known.
Diagram for Volume calculations (quarry stone is sold by unit weight & total volume)
A
V
a ≈ t (a + 2c )
L
α c c = h 2 + (h cot α )
2

h H = h 1 + cot 2 α
t
T b = A + 2(H cot α − T sin α )

b a = A + 2T(cot α − csc α )
B

First Under-Layer
• minimum two stone thick (n = 2)
• under-layer unit weight = W/10 since cover layer and first underlayer are both stone
• W10 = 0.77 t/10 = 0.077 t × 1000 = 77 kg
• next larger available size is 90.7 kg
1/ 3 1/ 3
W  0.091 
• thickness t = nk ∆   = 2 × 1×   = 0.66 m
 γa   2.5 
Volume per unit length of breakwater
• referring to diagram:
h = 9.2 m – tarmor = 9.2 – 1.4 = 7.8 m;
t = tul1 = 0.7 m, T = tarmor = 1.4
A = Bcrest = 2 m, cot α = 2
a = A + 2T(cot α − csc α ) = 2 + 2(1.4 )(2 − 2.2) = 1.4 m
c = h 1 + cot 2 α = 6.8 1 + 4 = 15 m
V
≈ t (a + 2c ) = 0.7(1.4 + 2 × 15) = 22 m 3 m
L
First Under-Layer
W10 = 91 kg
tul1 = 0.7 m
V/Lul1 = 22 m3/m
Second Under-Layer
• minimum two stone thick (n = 2)
• under-layer unit weight = W/20 of the layer above Æ W/200 of armor
• W200 = 0.75 t/200 = 0.004 t × 1000 = 4 kg
• next larger available size is 4.5 kg
1/ 3 1/ 3
W  0.0045 
• thickness t = nk ∆   = 2 × 1×   = 0.24 m
 γa   2.5 
Volume per unit length of breakwater
• referring to diagram:
h = 9.2 m – tarmor – tul1 = 9.2 – 1.4 – 0.7 = 6.1 m
t = tul2 = 0.24 m, T = tul1 = 0.7
A = aul1 = 1.4 m, cot α = 2
a = A + 2T(cot α − csc α ) = 1.4 + 2(0.7 )(2 − 2.2) = 1.1 m
c = h 1 + cot 2 α = 6.1 1 + 4 = 13.6 m
V
≈ t (a + 2c ) = 0.24(1.1 + 2 × 13.6) = 6.8 m 3 m
L
Second Under-Layer
W200 = 4.5 kg
tul2 = 0.24 m
V/Lul1 = 6.8 m3/m
Core
• dynamic load requirement: W w core ≤ 15 to 25 Æ W = 4.5 kg Æ
wcore ≥ 4.5/25 – 4.5/15 = 0.18 – 0.3 kg
• W4000 = 0.75 t/4000 = 0.00019 t × 1000 = 0.2 kg
• next larger available size is 0.23 kg
1/ 3 1/ 3
W  0.0045 
• thickness t = nk ∆   = 2 × 1×   = 0.24 m
 γa   2.5 
Volume per unit length of breakwater
• referring to diagram:
h = 9.2 m – tarmor – tul1 – tul2 = 9.2 – 1.4 – 0.7 – 0.24 = 5.9 m
H = hul2 = 6.1 m, T = tul2 = 0.24
A = aul2 = 1.1 m; cot α = 2
a = A + 2T(cot α − csc α ) = 1.1 + 2(0.24 )(2 − 2.2) = 1 m
b = A + 2(H cot α − T csc α ) = 1.1 + 2(6.1× 2 − 0.24 × 2.2 ) = 24.4 m
V 1
trapezoid: ≈ 2 h (a + b ) = 12 5.9(1 + 24.4) = 75 m3 m
L
Core
W4000 = 0.23 kg
V/L = 75 m3/m
Toe Design:
• Toe Berm Width (Bt) should be the maximum of Bt = 2H or Bt = 0.4h, and at least 3
stones wide: 2H = 4 m, 0.4h = 0.4×5.5 = 2.2 m (use lower water level)
• assume Bt = 4 m
• assume height of toe = 1.4 m (guess) Æ hb = 5.5 – 1.4 = 4.1 m (use lower water level)
• Table VI-5-45 with hb/h = 4.1/5.5 = 0.75 Æ Ns3 ~ 60
γ SH 3 2.5 × 23
W= = = 0.1 t Æ nearest size is 136 kg = 0.14 t Æ
N 3s (sg − 1) 60(2.5 − 1)
3 3

1/ 3 1/ 3
W  0.14 
D =   =  = 0.38 m Æ 2 stones height = 2×0.38 = 0.76 m < 1.4 m
 γs   2.5 

• Table VI-5-48
k = 2π/Lm = 2π/62 = 0.101 m-1 Æ 2khb = 2×0.101×5.8 = 1.17
2kh b 1.17
K= sin 2 kBt = sin 2 (0.101× 4) = 0.124
sinh 2kh b sinh (1.17 )

1− K  h 
N s = 1.3 1 / 3  b + 1.8 exp − 1.5
(1 − K )2 h b 

 K  Hs  K1 / 3 H s 

 1 − 0.124  4.1
= 1.3 +

−
(1 − 0.124)2  4.1  = 4.7
1/ 3   
1 . 8 exp  1 . 5
 0.124  2  0.1241 / 3  2 

γ SH 3 2.5 × 23
Ns3 ~ 103 Æ W = = = 0.06 t
N 3s (sg − 1) 103(2.5 − 1)
3 3

• use W = 0.14 t and recalculate with ht = 5.5 – 0.8 = 4.7 m Æ hb/h = 4.7/5.5 = 0.85
this is not on the chart Æ Ns3 ~ 60 Æ keep previous calculation
Wtoe = 136 kg
hb = 4.7 m
(below SWL)
toe height = 0.8 m
Bt = 4 m
• Toe volume
assume slope is 1:2 Æ base length = Bt + 2(SWL-hb)cot α = 4 + 2×0.8×2 = 7.2 m
assume trapezoidal Æ V/L = (SWL-hb)(Bt + base) = 0.8(4 + 7.2) = 9 m3/m
V/Ltoe = 9 m3/m
Toe-to-Toe Width:
W = 2Bt + 2(SWL-hb)cot αt + B + 2(hb + DHW + R + ρ)cot α
= 2×4 + 2×0.8×2 + 2 + 2× (4.7 + 1.7 + 2 + 0.1) ×2 = 47.2 m

Filter/Bed Design:
W50 ( bed )
• To prevent material from leaching out: < 15 to 20
W50 ( core )
• Wcore = 0.23 kg Æ Wbed > 3.5 – 4.6 kg Æ dbed ~ 12 cm Æ cobble

General guidelines
• for stability against wave attack, bedding Layer thickness should be:
o 2-3 times the diameter for large stone
o 10 cm for coarse sand
o 20 cm for gravel
• For foundation stability Bedding Layer thickness should be at least 2 feet
• Bedding Layer should extend 5 feet horizontally beyond the toe cover stone.

• Bedding layer should be 0.6 m thick, d50 ~ 12 cm (cobble)

• Extent: toe-to-toe width + 2×1.5 m = 47.2 + 3 = 50.2 m
Structure Summary:
total height (h + R): 9.3 m
slope (tan α): 1:2
Crest Width (B): 2m
Freeboard (R): 2m
Estimated Overtopping (q) 0.2 m3/sec/m
Settlement (ρ): 0.1 m (assumed)
Toe-to-Toe width: 47.2 m
Armor: W50 = 0.77 t
n = 2, t = 1.4 m
Na/A = 2.8 units/m2
V/L = 54.9 m3/m
First Under-Layer: W50 = 91 kg
n = 2, t = 0.7 m
V/L = 22 m3/m
Second Under-Layer: W50 = 4.5 kg
n = 2, t = 0.24 m
V/L = 6.8 m3/m
Core: W50 = 0.23 kg
V/L = 75 m3/m
Toe: W50 = 136 kg
hb = 4.7 m below SWL
toe height = 0.8 m
Bt = 4 m
toe base width = 7.2 m
V/L = 9 m3/m
Bedding: W50 = 4.5 kg
thickness = 0.6 m
horizontal length = 50.2 m
V/L = 30.1 m3/m
Settlement & Bearing Capacity:

BW Load
Volume & Weight above SWL (dry, unsubmerged load):
Height = 9.3 – 5.5 = 3.8 m
B=2
Width at WL = B + 2hcot α = 2 + 2×3.8×2 = 17.2 m
V/L = ½ 3.8(2 + 17.2) = 36.5 m3/m
Weight of material = Wabove WL = γ (1-P/100) V/L = 2.5 (1 – 0.37)36.5 = 57.5 t/m
Submerged Volume & Weight
Submerged
V/Ltotal = (V/L)armor + (V/L)ul1 + (V/L)ul2 + (V/L)core +(V/L)toe + (V/L)bed
= 55 + 22 + 6.8 + 75 + 9 + 30.1 = 198 m3/m
V/Lsubmerged = 198 – 36.5 = 162 m3/m
W = [γ(1 – P/100) + γw(P/100)] V/Lsubmerged = [2.5(1-0.37) + 1×0.37]162
Wbelow WL = 315 t/m

Total Load
∆σ = (Wabove WL + Wbelow WL)/(foundation width)

Sand Layer: ∆σ = (57.5 + 315)/47.2 = 7.9 t/m2

Clay Layer Æ correct for distribution of load through sand layer (see diagram)
∆σ = (57.5 + 315)/[47.2 + 2×(5.5-0.6)×2] = 5.5 t/m2

DHW

SWL

H1 Sand
γ' = 7 kN/m3
φ = 35°

Clay
BB
γ' = 4 kN/m3
c = 20 kPa
BB + 2H1cot φ
Bearing Capacity
Evaluate the ultimate bearing capacity, qu, for each level (very conservative, but simple)
For saturated, submerged soils
strip foundations: q u = q c + q q + q γ = cN c + qN q + 0.5γ′BN γ

NOTE: This formula is not for multiple layer soils. This calculation will only give a
rough approximation.
Sand Layer:
γ = 17 kN/m3, φ = 30°, c = 0
Terzaghi Table: Nc = 37.16, Nq = 22.46, Nγ = 19.13
Df = Foundation depth (bedding layer thickness) = 0.6 m
Assume γw = 10 kN/m3
BW foundation width (neglect bed) = 47.2 m
qc = cNc = 0
qq = γ'DfNq = (17-10)×0.6×22.46 = 94 kN/m2
qγ = ½ γ'BNγ = ½ ×(17-10) ×47.2×19.13 = 3160 kN/m2
qu = 0 + 94 + 3160 = 3254 kN/m2 = 325 t/m2

∆σ = 7.9 t/m2
FS = qu/ ∆σ = 325/15.1 = 21.5
FSsand = 21
Clay Layer:
γ = 14 kN/m3, φ = 0, c = 50 kN/m2
Terzaghi Table: Nc = 5.7, Nq = 1, Nγ = 0
Df = 0
qc = cNc = 50×5.7 = 285 kN/m2
qq = γ'DfNq = 0
qγ = ½ γ'BNγ = 0
qu = 285 + 0 + 0 = 285 kN/m2 = 28.5 t/m2

clay layer also supports the sand layer: ∆σsand = 0.7×4.9 t/m2 = 3.4 t/m2
∆σ = 5.5 t/m2 + 3.4 t/m2 = 8.9 t/m2
FS = qu/ ∆σ = 28.5/8.9 = 3.2
FSclay = 3.2

Preliminary Safety Factor

FS = 3.2
Settlement
Sand Layer: ∆σ = 7.9 t/m2
Clay Layer: ∆σ = 5.5 t/m2
Settlement in Sand:
Assume L/B > 10
Iz = Iz10 = 0.2
depth of Izp: z = z10 = 1.0B Æ Z = 1
σ'zp = σzp – u = γ'ZB = (1.7 – 1) B = 0.7×47.2 = 33 t/m2
∆σ'z = q - σ'0 = 7.9 - (1.7 – 1)×0.6 = 7.5 t/m2

∆σ z ' 7.5
I zp = 0.5 + 0.1 = 0.5 + 0.1 = 0.55
σ zp ' 33

depth of influence: z = 4B = 4×47.2 = 190 m

assume one layer ∆z = 4.9 m
I zp − 0.2 0.55 − 0.2
z = 4.9/2 = 2.45 m Æ I z = 0.2 + z = 0.2 + 2.45 = 0.22
zp 47.2

assume qc/N60 ~ 5 bar = 50 t/m2 (see table in notes)

L/B = 10 Æ E = 3.5qc = 3.5×50 = 175 t/m2
(note: E table in notes gives E 10× higher for loose sand)
 σ'   (1.7 − 1)0.6 
C1 = 1 − 0.5 0  = 1 − 0.5  = 0.97
 ∆σ' Z   7 .5 
 t yrs 
 = 1 + 0.2 log10 
25 
C 2 = 1 + 0.2 log10   = 1.5 , assume 25 yr life
 0 .1   0 .1 

n
Ι   0.22 
ρ = C1C 2 ∆σ ∑  z  ∆z i = 0.97 ×1.5 ×  4.9 = 0.01 m
i =1  E  i  175 
ρsand = 0.01 m
 Settlement in Clay:
Primary Consolidation Settlement (ρc)
γ = 14 kN/m3, φ = 0°, c = 50 kPa, eo = 2.2, k = 10-5 cm/s, av = 3x10-3 m2/kN, Cc = 0.3
∆σ = 5.5 t/m2
σ'0 = (1.7 – 1)×4.9 + ½ (1.4-1)×21.5 = 7.7 t/m2
assume CR = 0.2Cc = 0.06
0.06 × 21.5  7.7 + 5.5 
Over-consolidated: ρc = − log  = 0.09 m
1 + 2.2  7.7 
Consider time to consolidate:
k = 10-5cm/s × 10-2m/cm × 3600s/hr × 24hrs/day × 365days/yr = 3.15 m/yr
k (1 + e 0 ) 3.15(1 + 2.2)
cv = = −3
= 336 m 2 / yr
γ wa v 10 × 3 × 10
N = 1, Tv (95%) = 1.129
cv t H2 21.52
Tv = Æ t = T = 1.129 = 1.55 yrs
(H N )2 v
cv 336

Secondary Consolidation Settlement (ρs)

Assume Cα/Cc ~ 0.03 Æ Cα ~ 0.01
assume tp = 2 yrs and the breakwater lifetime is 25 yrs
C H  t   0.01× 21.5   25 
ρ s =  α  log  F  =   log   = 0.07 m
 1 + e0   t P   1 + 2 .2   2 
ρ = ρ/i + ρc + ρs = 0 + 0.09 + 0.07 = 0.16 m

ρclay = 0.16 m

Total Settlement
ρ = ρsand + ρclay = 0.01 + 0.16 = 0.17 m
ρtotal = 0.17 m
should recalculate design with ρ ~ 0.2 m vice 0.1 m