Study of plunging wave impact pressures on placed block revetments

Abstract

An experimental study of plunging wave impacts on placed block revetment was conducted. In the study, a cubic block instrumented to monitor pressures was fixed at different locations along a plane slope. The study was conducted systematically with controlled simulation of the breaking wave using a frequency and amplitude modulated wave packet. The wave packet was programmed to generate a single breaking wave in water of constant depth. However, due to the interaction with the sloping structure, such a wave packet yielded five successive plunging waves. In this paper, the pressures around the cubic block associated with the most impulsive plunger are presented. The characteristics of impact pressures and the mechanics of the impact are elucidated.