Effect of wave steepness on the stability calculation of a breakwater under wave action

Abstract

The mathematical equations which relate the overturning and sliding safety factors of a breakwater and the allowable normal stress of the breakwater foundation to the dimensional ratio of the structure which is under the action of waves, as well as the minimum required breakwater widths to the other variables are determined. The solution of the equations for a range of values gave look-up tables which, when plotted, gave a picture of the variation of the minimum breakwater width to the other parameters. The minimum width is usually determined by the settling condition, but at a critical value and above of the allowable normal stress, the overturning condition defines the minimum width. In all cases the danger of overturning is always greater than that of sliding. The effect of wave steepness has, generally, a small impact on the minimum required breakwater width and a similar effect on the other parameters. So the accurate estimate of δ is not a critical measurement for the minimum required breakwater width.