DOLOS PACKING DENSITY AND EFFECT OF RELATIVE BLOCK DENSITY.

Abstract

Accuracy and compatibility of measuring and testing techniques are discussed briefly and a plea is made for standardization to avoid, as far as possible, deviations in test results of different laboratories. One of the main causes of these differences is inconsistency in dolos packing densities and corresponding layer thicknesses or shape factors. In an attempt to alleviate this problem three placing densities, namely 'light', 'mean' and 'dense' have been defined and their physical properties determined. Flume tests with regular waves, and dolos armor units at these packing densities, showed very little difference in stability and, considering practical limitations during construction, it is suggested that the 'mean' packing density be used for a 'first design', followed by proper model tests. The results of tests with model dolosse using three different unit densities were inconclusive and further tests using a wider range of densities are underway.