Hydraulic Stability of Randomly-Placed Rakuna-IV for Rubble Mound Breakwaters in Case of Non-breaking and Non-overtopping Waves Using Physical Models

Abstract

In recent years, very large concrete blocks have been used for many coastal protection works, especially rubble mound breakwaters in deep-water areas. These concrete blocks have been being modified and improved in order to be well adapted to different wave conditions and to meet the increasing and diverse demands of the construction of deep-water ports and coastal protection works. Along with the structural integrity, the hydraulic stability of concrete blocks has also been considered an important issue for rubble mound breakwaters. Recently, there have been various severe failures of many breakwaters covered by the complex form of slender concrete blocks without reinforcement, which caused by the breakage and failure of these blocks when the stresses exceed the strength or mechanical durability of the material, especially when the concrete blocks rock, rotate and collide under wave impacts – which is known as rocking mechanism. This is a common phenomenon in case of double-layer and randomly-placed slender concrete blocks for the protection of rubble mound breakwaters.