Breakwater stability study using a physical model

Abstract

This work presents the development and results of the two-dimensional physical modelling of a semi-submerged rock wall breakwater in the Argentinean coast. The breakwater was designed by the Hydraulics Laboratory of the National University of Cordoba (UNC, Spanish
acronym), Argentina to protect a portion of the Mar del Plata coast. The study was financed by SeCyT-UNC research projects and the Cordoba Ministry of Science and Technology. The main objective of this study was to experimentally verify the stability of the structure when exposed to design conditions. To that end, experiences described in the literature and
all available information were gathered to develop a methodology that could be applied to a majority of the laboratory tests using the same characteristics of those presented in this study. The tests were performed with a 23 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.9 m high channel using a  twodimensional wave generator with front paddles (HR-Wallingford). The waves were measured with 8 resistance wave gauges. The modelling required adapting the available facilities by adjusting the base in order to reach the breaking conditions of the design wave and determine
the correct placement of the structure. The tests represented extreme wave conditions similar to those measured in the Mar del Plata over 50 years. The breakwater contained pieces of 5 Tn, water levels ranged from high to low tides and a scale of 1:30 was selected.