Static stability of submerged partial revetment structures under regular and irregular waves

Abstract

Physical models of submerged partial revetment structures were built on natural beach sand with a diameter of 0.35 mm and specific gravity of 2.63. The armor units, the diameter and specific gravity of which varied in the range of 8.5–67.95 mm and 1.81–2.77 respectively, were placed only on wave breaking areas. A series of experiments has been conducted on the conditions of different armor units and different wave characteristics using regular waves and irregular waves. Based on the experimental data, the effects of wave height, wave period, diameter and specific gravity of armor units, water depth in the channel, and wave types on static damage of given structures are assessed. Some empirical formulas have been suggested through regression analysis to describe static stability and stability number of submerged partial revetment structures under pure regular waves, pure irregular waves, and regular–irregular waves. The suggested formulas compared with Van der Meer’s (1988) formulas and some differences have occurred because of differences among revetment types and test conditions; therefore, proposed formulas give reasonable results for the test conditions used.