WFM 6307: Water Control Structures

Lecture 8
Putting things in context

Water and Sediment discharge (from rivers)

Sand transport, Morphology, Sediments

bioturbation
nutrients

Coastal structures Waves and currents Biological ecosystems

Aeration/mixing

life Red tide

Water quality
Organic matter, nutrients, N,P,K, Si (urbanization)
Wave forces on coastal structures: 2 new scenarios
Forces on coastal structures

Non-breaking waves Breaking waves Broken waves

• Scenarios for non-breaking wave forces could be:

Non-overtopping vertical wall
Overtopping vertical wall
Vertical wall with rubble foundation
Non-overtopping vertical wall with the same water depth on both sides of the structure
Non-overtopping vertical wall with the unequal water depth between both sides of the
structure
Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping
• It is often not economically feasible (also sometimes aesthetically acceptable) to design a
structure to provide a non-overtopping condition by the design wave.
• Consequently, it is necessary to evaluate the force on a structure where the crest of the
design clapotis is above the top of the wall as shown in Figure 7-96.
Shore protection manual (Vol. II)
• When the overtopping is not too Pg 7-174
severe, the majority of the incident
wave will be reflected and the
resulting pressure distribution is as
shown in Figure 7-96, with the
pressure on the wall being the same
as in the non-overtopped case.
Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping
• This truncated distribution results in a force F' and momentum M’ which are proportional
to F and M, respectively. The total force that would act against the wall if it extended up
to the crest of the clapotis (the forces determined from nomograms). The relationship
between F' & F and M’&M are given by:
F’ = rf*F and M’ = rm*M Shore protection manual (Vol. II)
Pg 7-174
where rf and rm are the force reduction
and momentum reduction factors given
as follows:
when 0.50 1.0

1.0 when

when 0.50 1.0

1.0 when
Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping

• Force and moment reduction

factors

Shore protection manual (Vol. II)

Pg 7-175
Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping

Given:
• Wall height: b = 4.5m
• Incident wave height hi = 1.5m
• Depth of structure at toe d = 3m
• Wave periods T = 6s and 10s
Find: reduced wave force and moment on the given vertical wall.
Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping

Solution:
Similar to previous example we can obtain: for T=6s
yc= 5.5m; yt = 2.5m
Fc = 56.7 KN/m; Ft = -27.9KN/m
Fc total = 101.7 KN/m; Ft total= 17.1KN/m
Mc = 118.8 KN/m; Mt = -33.21KN/m
Mc total = 163.8 KN/m; Mt total= 11.79KN/m

Now, b/yc = 4.5/5.5 = 0.82, so rf = 0.97 and rm = 0.91 can be calculated

and b/yt = 4.5/2.5 =1.8 (>1), so rf = 1 and rm = 1
Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping
Solution (contd.):
Fc’ = 0.97*101.7 = 98.5 KN/m
Ft’ = 1*17.1 =17.1 KN/m
Mc’ = 0.91* 163.8 = 149.4 KN-m/m
Mt’ = 1*11.79 = 11.79 KN-m/m
• Note that, these values include the force and moment due to the hydrostatic component
of the loading, i.e., total force and total moment.
• Again, assuming that the wave action on both sides of the structure is identical, so that
the maximum net horizontal force and maximum overturning moment occurs when a
clapotis crest is on one side of the structure and a trough is on the other side.
F’ net= F’c – F’t= 98.5 – 17.1 = 81.4 KN/m

M’ net= M’c – M’t= 149.4 – 11.79 = 137.6 KN/m

Non-breaking wave forces on coastal structures: with overtopping
Solution (contd.): for T = 10s
yc= 5.835m; yt = 2.835m
Fc = 60.3 KN/m; Ft = -29.7KN/m
Fc total = 105.3 KN/m; Ft total= 15.3KN/m
Mc = 126.9 KN/m; Mt = -36.45KN/m
Mc total = 171.7 KN/m; Mt total= 8.55KN/m
Now, b/yc = 4.5/5.835 = 0.77, so rf = 0.95 and rm = 0.87 can be calculated
and b/yt = 4.5/2.835 =1.59 (>1), so rf = 1 and rm = 1
Fc’ = 0.95*105.3 = 99.8 KN/m
Ft’ = 1*15.3 =15.3 KN/m
Mc’ = 0.87* 171.7 = 149.2 KN-m/m
Mt’ = 1*8.55 = 8.55 KN-m/m
F’ net= F’c – F’t= 99.8 – 15.3 = 84.5 KN/m
M’ net= M’c – M’t= 149.2 – 8.55 = 140.5 KN/m
Non-breaking wave forces on vertical wall: on rubble foundation
Forces acting on a vertical wall built on a
rubble foundation are shown in Figure 7-98
and may be computed in a manner similar to
computing the forces acting on a low wall if
the components of the force and moment
reduction factors are used.
As shown in Figure 7-98, the value of b which
is used for computing b/y is the height of the
rubble base and not the height of the wall
above the foundation. The equation relating Shore protection manual (Vol. II)
Pg 7-177
the reduced force F" against the wall on a
rubble foundation with the force F which
would act against a wall extending the entire
depth is:
F’’=(1-rf)*F
Non-breaking wave forces on vertical wall: on rubble foundation
The equation relating to moment is:
MA’’=(1-rm)*M
Where MA’’ is the moment about the
bottom (point A in the figure). Usually the
moment desired is that about point B,
which may be found from
MB’’= (1-rm)M – b(1-rf)F Shore protection manual (Vol. II)
Pg 7-177
or
MB’’= MA’’-b*F’’

The values of (1-rm) and (1-rf) may be directly obtained from figure 7.97.
Non-breaking wave forces on vertical wall: on rubble foundation

Given:
• A smooth faced vertical wall on a rubble base.
• Height of rubble foundation: b = 2.7m
• Incident wave height, Hi = 1.5m
• Design depth of structure, d = 3m
• Wave period, T = 6s (minimum) and T = 10s (maximum)

Find: the force and overturning moment on the given wall on a rubble
foundation.
Non-breaking wave forces on vertical wall: on rubble foundation

Solution:
Nomogram figures 7.90 – 7.92 are used in this example, eventhough a rubble
base will reduce reflection coefficient of a structure by dissipating some wave
energy.
As previously calculated, yc = 5.5m and yt = 2.5m
So
b/yc = 2.7/5.5 = 0.491 and b/yt = 2.7/2.5 = 1.08>1.0
From figure 7.97
For b/yc = 0.491: (1-rf) = 0.26 and (1-rm) = 0.52
And b/yt > 1.0: (1-rf) = 0.0 and (1-rm) = 0.0
 Non-breaking wave forces on vertical wall: on rubble foundation

Fc’’ = 0.26*101.7 = 26.5 KN/m and Ft’’ = 0.*17.1 = 0 KN/m (T = 6s)

Fc’’ = 30.8 KN/m and Ft’’ = 0 KN/m (T = 10s)

(MA’’)C = 0.52*163.8 = 85.2 KN-m/m and (MA’’)t = 0.*11.8 = 0 KN-m/m (T = 6s)

(MA’’)C = 95.9 KN-m/m and (MA’’)t = 0 KN-m/m (T = 10s)

(MB’’)C = 85.2 – 2.7*26.5 = 13.7 KN-m/m and (MB’’)t = 0 KN-m/m (T = 6s)

(MB’’)C = 12.7 KN-m/m and (MB’’)t = 0 KN-m/m (T = 10s)

F’’ net= F’’c – F’’t= 26.5 – 0 = 26.5 KN/m (T = 6s), 30.8 KN/m (T = 10s)
at A: M’’ net= M’’c – M’’t= 85.2 – 0 = 85.2 KN-m/m (T = 6s), 95.9 KN-m/m (T = 10s)
at B: M’’ net= M’’c – M’’t= 13.7 – 0 = 13.7 KN-m/m (T = 6s), 12.7 KN-m/m (T = 10s)
WFM 6307: Water Control Structures

Lecture 9
From previous lecture: Wave forces on coastal structures
Forces on coastal structures

Non-breaking waves Breaking waves Broken waves

Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
• When waves break directly against vertical-face structures it exerts high, short duration,
dynamic pressures that act near the region where the wave crests hit the structure.
• Impact pressures occur at the instant that the vertical front face of a breaking wave hits
the wall and only when a plunging wave entraps a cushion of air against the wall. Because
of this critical dependence on wave geometry, high impact pressures are infrequent
against prototype structures.
• However, the possibility of high impact pressures must be recognized and considered in
design. Since the high impact pressures are short (on the order of hundredths of a
second), their importance in the design of breakwaters against sliding or overturning is
questionable; however, lower dynamic forces which last longer are important.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
• Minikin's (1955, 1963) method can give wave forces that are extremely high, as much as
15 to 18 times those calculated for nonbreaking waves. Therefore, the following
procedures should be used.
• The maximum pressure assumed to act at the SWL is given by:
•

where
pm is the maximum dynamic pressure,
Hb is the breaker height
dS is the depth at the toe of the wall
D is the depth one wavelength in front of the wall, and
LD is the wavelength in water of depth D.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves

The maximum pressure assumed to

act at the SWL is given by:

where
pm is the maximum dynamic pressure,
Hb is the breaker height
dS is the depth at the toe of the wall
D is the depth one wavelength in front of the wall, and
LD is the wavelength in water of depth D.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
The distribution of dynamic pressure is shown in Figure 7-99. The pressure decreases
parabolically from pm at the SWL to zero at a distance of Hb/2 above and below the SWL.
The force represented by the area under the dynamic pressure distribution is:

i.e., the force resulting from dynamic component

of pressure.
The overturning moment about the toe is

i,e., the moment resulting from the dynamic

component of pressure.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
The hydrostatic contribution to the force and overturning moment must be added to
determine total force and overturning moment.
The Minikin formula was originally derived for composite breakwaters composed of a
concrete superstructure founded on a rubble substructure; strictly, D and LD in equation are
the depth and wavelength at the toe of the substructure, and ds is the depth at the toe of
the vertical wall (i.e., the distance from the SWL down to the crest of the rubble
substructure). For caisson and other vertical structures where no substructure is present,
the formula has been adapted by using the depth at the structure toe as dS, while D and LD
are the depth and wavelength a distance one wavelength seaward of the structure.
Consequently, the depth D can be found from

where Ld is the wavelength in a depth equal to ds, and m is the nearshore slope.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
The forces and moments resulting from the hydrostatic pressure must be added to the
dynamic force and moment computed above. The triangular hydrostatic pressure
distribution is shown in Figure 7-99; the pressure is zero at the breaker crest (taken at Hb/2
above the SWL), and increases linearly to w(ds + Hb/2) at the toe of the wall. The total
breaking wave force on a wall per unit wall length is:

=
where RS is the hydrostatic component of breaking wave on a wall.
The total moment about the toe is:

=
where Ms is the hydrostatic moment.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
GIVEN:
• A vertical wall, 4.3 m high is sited in sea water with d = 2.5 m.
• The wall is built on a bottom slope of 1:20 (m = 0.05).
• Reasonable wave periods range from T=6s to T=10s.
FIND:
(a) The maximum pressure, horizontal force, and overturning moment about
the toe of the wall for the given slope.
(b) The maximum pressure, horizontal force, and overturning moment for the
6-second wave if the slope was 1:100.
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
Solution: (a)

Obtain maximum possible breaker height: Hb for depth of structure ds=2.5 for T=6s and 10s

Calculate ds/gT2 = 2.5/(9.8*(6)2) = 0.0071 (T=6s); 0.0026 (T=10s)

From figure 7-4 (next slide) Hb/ds = 1.1 (T=6s); 1.27 (T=10s)

So, maximum breaking wave height, Hb = 1.1*2.5 = 2.8m (T=6s); 1.27*2.5= 3.2m (T=10s)
Forces on coastal
structures from
breaking waves
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
Solution: (contd.)
Next, from this figure
For ds/gT2 = 0.0071 and 0.0026
Pm/wHb = 12 (T=6s) and 5.5 (T=10s)
So, Pm= 12*10*2.8 = 336 KN/m2 (T=6s)
Pm= 5.5*10*3.2 = 176 KN/m2 (T=10s)
Dynamic force:
Rm= Pm*Hb/3 = 313.6 KN/m (T=6s)
= 187.7 KN/m (T=10s)
Dynamic moment:
Mm= Rm*ds = 784 KN-m/m (T=6s)
= 469 KN-m/m (T=10s)
Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
Solution: (contd)

Static force: Rs= 76.1 KN/m (T=6s); Rs= 84.1 KN/m (T=10s)

Static moment: Ms = 98.9 KN/m (T=6s); Ms = 114.9 KN/m (T=10s)

Total force: Rt = Rs + Rm= 389.7 KN/m (T=6s); Rt = 271.8 KN/m (T=10s)

Total moment: Mt = Ms + Mm= 882.9 KN-m/m (T=6s); Mt = 584.2KN-m/m (T=10s)

Forces on coastal structures from breaking waves
For, m = 0.01, Hb/ds = 0.86 (figure 7-4 )
Solution: (b)
So, Hb= 2.15m
Pm/wHb = 18 (T=6s)
Pm= 387 KN/m2 (T=6s)
Dynamic force: Rm= 277.4 KN/m (T=6s)
Dynamic moment: Mm= 693 KN-m/m
Total force: Rt = 277.4+63.9 = 341.3 KN/m
Total moment: Mt = 693+ 65.5=758.9 KN-m/m

It can be noted that the resulting maximum wave pressure is higher for the wall on 1:100
sloping beach (336 < 387KN/m2) compared to 1:20 slope; but, the dynamic force is less
against the wall on a 1:100 slope (313.6>277.4KN-m/m) compared to 1:20 slope. This is due
to the maximum possible breaker height reaching the wall is lower on a flatter slope.
Thank You