Abstract
The term “damage” in rubble mound breakwaters is usually related to the foremost failure mode of this kind of coastal structures: their hydraulic instability. The characterization of the breakwater response against wave action was and will be the goal of hundreds of studies. Because of the large amount of information, the present review on damage in rubble mound breakwaters is divided in two papers, which are closely linked but conceptually different; whereas Part II is focused on the various approaches for defining and measuring damage, Part I summarizes the diverse strategies for modelling damage development and progression. The present paper compiles 146 references on this topic, chronologically discussed over almost a century of history: from 1933 to 2020. It includes 23 formulations of hydraulic stability models and 11 formulations of damage progression models, together with main advances and shortcomings up to date. The future of rubble mound design is linked to risk-based tools and advanced management strategies, for which deeper comprehension about the spatial and temporal evolution of damage during the useful life of each particular structure is required. For this aim, damage progression probabilistic models, full-scale monitoring and standardization will presumably be some of the key challenges in the upcoming years.
Highlights
Damage in rubble mound breakwaters can be defined as the partial or total loss of its functionality and it is usually related to the hydraulic instability of the armor layer [1,2]
The amount of literature on this topic is quite extensive, which has to do with the importance of hydraulic stability in the design and maintenance of this kind of coastal structures as well as with the great challenge that implies the characterization of damage initiation and damage progression rates
This challenge is related to the following summing-up points: (1) Hydraulic instability of armor layers is a complex process because of the stochastic nature of both wave loading, initiation of movement, and damage progression
Summary
Damage in rubble mound breakwaters can be defined as the partial or total loss of its functionality and it is usually related to the hydraulic instability of the armor layer [1,2]. Wave forces might provoke movements in the armor layer such as rocking, displacements, sliding of a whole blanket or settlement because of compaction In this way, pieces close to SWL (still water level) tend to be moved toward the toe of the structure. As stated in Melby and Hughes [3], it is recommended to utilize physical models if at all possible to verify stability and it is a common requisite in design tenders These physical models are aimed at relating the response of the armor layer to parameters of the incident wave train and breakwater characteristics. Part I is focused on how damage development and progression is modelled, i.e., which are the available hypothesis and strategies for characterizing the structural response This characterization is especially relevant, from the point of view of the breakwater design, and regarding conservation and maintenance plans during the useful life. Note that damage progression models presented in Part I directly consider these descriptors within their formulations
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