Stability formula and failure probability analysis of wave-dissipating blocks considering wave breaking

Abstract

The effects of wave steepness and wave breaking on the stability of wave-dissipating blocks placed on caisson breakwaters are examined by hydraulic experiments under conditions with and without wave breaking. It is confirmed that there is a clear dependence of the block stability on the wave steepness through the wave-breaking type, such as plunging and spilling breakers. The stability parameter in the spilling breaker case is larger than that in the plunging breaker case. For non-breaking wave conditions, there is no effect of the wave steepness. An empirical stability formula is proposed taking into account the effects of the wave steepness and the wave-breaking type. Finally, by using the stability formula, failure probabilities of the wave-dissipating blocks having a nominal diameter are evaluated by the first-order reliability method of the Level II reliability analysis.