OCE 3016

Class Handout
Coastal Structures
In the design of jetties, breakwaters, etc. the size and density of armor stone must be
determined. One method of estimating the stability of the armor stone is to use the so
called Modified Hudson Stability Number, Ns*,
*Know this formula for Quiz*

( Hs L p )
2

Ns* =

1/ 3

D50 s 1 cot ( )
w

Where: Hs= significant wave height

Lp= wave length corresponding to Tp
Tp= wave period at peak of wave energy density spectrum
D50= median stone diameter

1/ 3

mass
1/ 3
m50
mass
Has dimensions of
=

L3
s

m50= median mass of stone

s= mass density of rock (stone)
w= mass density of water
cot ()= slop of structure
And the Dimensionless Damage, DD,

DD =
Where: Ad= cross sectional area of damage

Ad

( D50 )2

=L

An Example:

After storm shape

Ad= Area of damage

Before storm shape

Recall:
Wave
Energy
Density

Wave frequency

Tp = 2
p

And Lp = wave length of wave with period Tp

The relationship between DD and Modified Hudson Stability Number (sometimes called
the Spectral Stability Number) is determined experimentally.

Thus for Ns* < 6 the

structure will be stable

Dimensionless
Damage

6 8

Ns*

Rubble Mound Breakwater Design Example

Given:
Design Conditions
Water depth:
Beach slope:
Design high water:
Design wave

5.5 m
1:20
1.7 m
Hs = 2 m
H1/10 = 2.5 m
Tm = 8 sec
Lo = 100 m
0.4 m3/sec/m
rough quarry stone

Allowable overtopping:
Armor unit:
Soil data:
0m

5.5 m

SM
(sand)
fine to medium
loose

CH
(clay)
soft
over-consolidated

= 17 kN/m3
= 30
c=0

= 14 kN/m3
= 0
c = 50 kPa
eo = 2.2
k = 10-5 cm/s
av = 3x10-3 m2/kN
Cc = 0.3

21.5 m
limestone

B
crown/cap

ocean side

bay/harbor side

crest
armor layer, W
R

DHW
SWL

hc

first underlayer

hb

second underlayer
t

toe

core/base

Bt

bedding and/or filter

Assume:
Armor and underlayer material is quarry stone:
a = 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 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

2
2
2
= 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
at DHW: Hb = 0.787.2 = 5.6 m
at SWL: Hb = 0.785.5 = 4.3 m

Alternate methods in CEM II-4

Both wave heights in (1) are greater than Hs

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 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

=0
Overtopping Discharge (CEM VI-5, pp. 19-33)
bR *m
q
where
= a exp
gH s Tm
r

using the Owen model(Table VI-5-8):

R *m =

R
Hs

sm
is the relative freeboard
2

H s 2 H s
R
R *m =
=
2
Lo
g Tm
Hs

Hs
gTm2

sm =

from Table VI-5-8:

slope 1:2 a = 0.013, b = 22
rock riprap > 2D thick r ~ 0.55

solving:
R *m =

0 .4
0.55
r q

=
ln
ln
= 0.041
22 0.013 9.8 2 8
b agH s Tm

R = Hs R

*
m

gTm2
9.8 82
= 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 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 m = 2.7

for 1.5 < m (D/B)1/C
R u ,i % HS = B Cm

R u , 2% H S = BCm = 1.17 2.7 0.46 = 1.85

Reduced Run-up assume surface berm shallow wave = 0.55 1 1 1

roughness

water

angle

R uR H S = (R u , 2% HS ) surface berm shallow 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
2
H s gTm 2 9.8 82
bR *m
22 0.0565
3
= 0.013(9.8)(2 )(8) exp
q = agH s Tm exp
0.2 m / sec/ m

0
.
55

R=2m
q = 0.2 m3/sec/m

Settlement: must be determined later assume total = 0.1 m

total = 0.1 m
Design elevation = DHW + + R + total = 7.2 + 0 + 2 + 0.1 = 9.3 m
h + R = 9.3 m
BW Dimension Summary:
Assumed
structure is symmetric, = b
no set-down
no crown, hc = R
total settlement = 0.1 m (adjust later)
h = 7.2 m
h + R = 9.3 m
tan = 1/2
Armor Unit Design:

Assume Armor unit is rough quarry stone, 2 layers, no overtopping Table VI-5-22 applies

non-breaking waves, 0-5% damage, random placement: KD = 4

sg = a/w = (2.5 t/m3)/(1 t/m3) = 2.5

W50 =

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

a H3
2.5 23
=
= 0.74t
3
3
K D (sg 1) cot 4(2.5 1) 2
W50 = 0.77 t

Armor thickness

n = 2; k = 1.0, P = 37% from Table VI-5-51

W
t = nk
a

1/ 3

1/ 3

0.77
= 2 1

2.5

= 1.4 m
tarmor = 1.4 m

1/ 3

W
Crest width (B) (minimum n = 3): B = 3k
a

1/ 3

0.77
= 3 1

2.5

= 2m
B=2m

Number of armor units per unit surface area

Na
P a

= nk 1

A
100 W

2/3

2.5
= 2 1 (1 0.37 )

0.77

2/3

= 2.8
Na/A = 2.8 units/m2

Volume of armor per unit length

V
= t[B + 2(h + R )cot ] = 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
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
a

V
t (a + 2c )
L

c = h 2 + (h cot )

= h 1 + cot 2

h H

b = A + 2(H cot T sin )

a = A + 2T(cot csc )

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

W
thickness t = nk
a

1/ 3

0.091
= 2 1

2.5

= 0.66 m

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 = 2
a = A + 2T(cot csc ) = 2 + 2(1.4 )(2 2.2) = 1.4 m
c = h 1 + cot 2 = 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 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

W
thickness t = nk
a

1/ 3

0.0045
= 2 1

2.5

= 0.24 m

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 = 2
a = A + 2T(cot csc ) = 1.4 + 2(0.7 )(2 2.2) = 1.1 m
c = h 1 + cot 2 = 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 W = 4.5 kg

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

W
thickness t = nk
a

1/ 3

0.0045
= 2 1

2.5

= 0.24 m

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 = 2
a = A + 2T(cot csc ) = 1.1 + 2(0.24 )(2 2.2) = 1 m
b = A + 2(H cot T csc ) = 1.1 + 2(6.1 2 0.24 2.2 ) = 24.4 m
V 1
2 h (a + b ) = 12 5.9(1 + 24.4) = 75 m3 m
trapezoid:
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 = 0.45.5 = 2.2 m (use lower water level)

assume Bt = 4 m

assume height of toe = 1.4 m (guess) 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 Ns3 ~ 60

W=

SH 3
2.5 23
=
= 0.1 t nearest size is 136 kg = 0.14 t
3
3
N 3s (sg 1)
60(2.5 1)
1/ 3

W
D =
s

1/ 3

0.14
=

2.5

= 0.38 m 2 stones height = 20.38 = 0.76 m < 1.4 m

Table VI-5-48
k = 2/Lm = 2/62 = 0.101 m-1 2khb = 20.1015.8 = 1.17
K=

2kh b
1.17
sin 2 kBt =
sin 2 (0.101 4) = 0.124
sinh 2kh b
sinh (1.17 )

(1 K )2 h b
1 K h
N s = 1.3 1 / 3 b + 1.8 exp 1.5

K1 / 3 H s
K Hs

(1 0.124)2 4.1 = 4.7

1 0.124 4.1
= 1.3
+

1
.
8
exp
1
.
5

1/ 3
0.1241 / 3 2
0.124 2

Ns3 ~ 103 W =

SH 3
2.5 23
=
= 0.06 t
3
3
N 3s (sg 1) 103(2.5 1)

use W = 0.14 t and recalculate with ht = 5.5 0.8 = 4.7 m hb/h = 4.7/5.5 = 0.85
this is not on the chart Ns3 ~ 60 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 base length = Bt + 2(SWL-hb)cot = 4 + 20.82 = 7.2 m
assume trapezoidal 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 t + B + 2(hb + DHW + R + )cot

= 24 + 20.82 + 2 + 2 (4.7 + 1.7 + 2 + 0.1) 2 = 47.2 m
Filter/Bed Design:

W50 ( bed )

To prevent material from leaching out:

Wcore = 0.23 kg Wbed > 3.5 4.6 kg dbed ~ 12 cm cobble

W50 ( core )

< 15 to 20

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 + 21.5 m = 47.2 + 3 = 50.2 m

Structure Summary:

total height (h + R):

9.3 m

slope (tan ):

1:2

Crest Width (B):

2m

Freeboard (R):

2m

Estimated Overtopping (q)

0.2 m3/sec/m

Settlement ():

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 = 2 + 23.82 = 17.2 m
V/L = 3.8(2 + 17.2) = 36.5 m3/m
Weight of material = Wabove WL = (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 = [(1 P/100) + w(P/100)] V/Lsubmerged = [2.5(1-0.37) + 10.37]162
Wbelow WL = 315 t/m
Total Load
= (Wabove WL + Wbelow WL)/(foundation width)
Sand Layer: = (57.5 + 315)/47.2 = 7.9 t/m2
Clay Layer correct for distribution of load through sand layer (see diagram)
= (57.5 + 315)/[47.2 + 2(5.5-0.6)2] = 5.5 t/m2

DHW
SWL

H1

Sand
' = 7 kN/m3

= 35
BB
BB + 2H1cot

Clay
' = 4 kN/m3
c = 20 kPa

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 = cN c + qN q + 0.5BN
NOTE: This formula is not for multiple layer soils. This calculation will only give a
rough approximation.
Sand Layer:
= 17 kN/m3, = 30, c = 0
Terzaghi Table: Nc = 37.16, Nq = 22.46, N = 19.13
Df = Foundation depth (bedding layer thickness) = 0.6 m
Assume w = 10 kN/m3
BW foundation width (neglect bed) = 47.2 m
qc = cNc = 0
qq = 'DfNq = (17-10)0.622.46 = 94 kN/m2
q = 'BN = (17-10) 47.219.13 = 3160 kN/m2
qu = 0 + 94 + 3160 = 3254 kN/m2 = 325 t/m2
= 7.9 t/m2
FS = qu/ = 325/15.1 = 21.5
FSsand = 21
Clay Layer:
= 14 kN/m3, = 0, c = 50 kN/m2
Terzaghi Table: Nc = 5.7, Nq = 1, N = 0
Df = 0
qc = cNc = 505.7 = 285 kN/m2
qq = 'DfNq = 0
q = 'BN = 0
qu = 285 + 0 + 0 = 285 kN/m2 = 28.5 t/m2
clay layer also supports the sand layer: sand = 0.74.9 t/m2 = 3.4 t/m2
= 5.5 t/m2 + 3.4 t/m2 = 8.9 t/m2
FS = qu/ = 28.5/8.9 = 3.2
FSclay = 3.2
Preliminary Safety Factor
FS = 3.2

Settlement
Sand Layer:

= 7.9 t/m2

Clay Layer:

= 5.5 t/m2

Settlement in Sand:
Assume L/B > 10
Iz = Iz10 = 0.2
depth of Izp: z = z10 = 1.0B Z = 1
'zp = zp u = 'ZB = (1.7 1) B = 0.747.2 = 33 t/m2
'z = q - '0 = 7.9 - (1.7 1)0.6 = 7.5 t/m2
I zp = 0.5 + 0.1

z '
7.5
= 0.5 + 0.1
= 0.55
zp '
33

depth of influence: z = 4B = 447.2 = 190 m

assume one layer z = 4.9 m
z = 4.9/2 = 2.45 m I z = 0.2 +

I zp 0.2
zp

z = 0.2 +

0.55 0.2
2.45 = 0.22
47.2

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

L/B = 10 E = 3.5qc = 3.550 = 175 t/m2
(note: E table in notes gives E 10 higher for loose sand)
'
(1.7 1)0.6
C1 = 1 0.5 0 = 1 0.5
= 0.97
7 .5

' Z
t yrs
25
= 1 + 0.2 log10
C 2 = 1 + 0.2 log10
= 1.5 , assume 25 yr life
0 .1
0 .1
n

0.22
= C1C 2 z z i = 0.97 1.5
4.9 = 0.01 m
175
i =1 E i

sand = 0.01 m

Settlement in Clay:
Primary Consolidation Settlement (c)
= 14 kN/m3, = 0, c = 50 kPa, eo = 2.2, k = 10-5 cm/s, av = 3x10-3 m2/kN, Cc = 0.3
= 5.5 t/m2
'0 = (1.7 1)4.9 + (1.4-1)21.5 = 7.7 t/m2
assume CR = 0.2Cc = 0.06
Over-consolidated:

c =

0.06 21.5 7.7 + 5.5

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
cv =

k (1 + e 0 ) 3.15(1 + 2.2)
=
= 336 m 2 / yr
3
wa v
10 3 10

N = 1, Tv (95%) = 1.129
Tv =

H2
cv t
21.52
t
T
1
.
129

=
=
= 1.55 yrs
v
cv
336
(H N )2

Secondary Consolidation Settlement (s)

Assume C/Cc ~ 0.03 C ~ 0.01
assume tp = 2 yrs and the breakwater lifetime is 25 yrs
C H
t 0.01 21.5
25
s = log F =
log = 0.07 m
2
t P 1 + 2 .2
1 + e0

= /i + c + s = 0 + 0.09 + 0.07 = 0.16 m

clay = 0.16 m
Total Settlement
= sand + clay = 0.01 + 0.16 = 0.17 m
total = 0.17 m
should recalculate design with ~ 0.2 m vice 0.1 m