• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 2021

The armor blocks are used to protect the body of the structure and dissipate wave energies, so it is crucial to evaluate the stability of the armor unit. The stability of armor blocks has been mainly evaluated through empirical coefficients called the stability coefficient obtained from hydraulic model experiments. In this study, a new type of single-layered armor block called K-Block was proposed, and a new experimental method based on the pull-out force was proposed to evaluate the stability of the armor unit, including the interlocking effects. The pull-out force test proposed in this study directly measures the force required to separate the armor unit from the armored layer on the slope by applying a tensile force in the vertical and horizontal directions to the installed armor unit. The proposed experimental method confirmed that the interlocking effects of the armor block could be quantitatively evaluated, and the high stability of the K-Block was verified.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.516-523
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• 2020

Since the aging of coastal structures have been increased, the researches about the reinforcements of the existing aged structures are needed. Especially, the existing armor units placed on rubble mound structures should satisfy the stability against the increased design wave conditions. However the researches about these design problems have not been performed. In this study, the hydraulic model tests to investigate the stability number about the additionally placed armor unit were conducted. The main armor unit is a Tetrapod. The test results showed that the stability number (Kd) for additionally placed armor units(Tetrapod) increased up to maximum 10% comparing with that for 2 layers tetrapod (Kd = 8) within these test conditions with the pattern placing for existing armor layers and the stable armor layer slope for the non overtopping condition.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.737-743
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• 2016

Coastal hazards such as high waves are expected to increase due to global climate change. Therefore, we investigated new armor unit structures for disaster prevention. Recently, a concrete caisson has been used in many breakwaters against high waves in South Korea, but the demand for concrete armor unit has increased due to the high cost and many installation requirements. Though many new armor units have been developed over the world since Tetrapod in 1950, few have been used due to lack of systematical development. The representative armor units in current use have many advantages, but they cannot be applied to waves higher than 8 m. One of the new armor units developed by the design guide based on recent trend and hydraulic model experiments were conducted. The new armor unit was developed as a single layer due to cost effectiveness. However, the thickness is close to 1.5 times by overlapping the alphabet A and V. It showed higher overtopping compared to a double layer because of the thickness and the high packing density. It has a high interlocking vertically but low horizontally. It shows good stability at 9 m in model testing.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.478-484
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• 2019

The submarine cable for Yongsu wave power plant was cut in 2014 winter. This study investigated the probability of high-wave occurrence exceeding the 50-year return period and the underestimation of armor unit weight used to protect the cable. The observation data from KMA buoy and the hindcast wave data were reviewed to determine the return period of wave height during the winter. In order to investigate the armor unit weight of cable-protection, we calculated the required weight of armor unit using not only Design Standard for Harbor and Fishery Port, but also the previous researches for the wave with large incident angle. As a result, it appeared that the high wave exceeding the 50-year return period did not occur during the winter of 2014 and the armor unit weight of the cable protection was not sufficient to sustain the obliquely incident wave, which induced the cable protection failure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2001

This paper reports on a recent investigation to determine criteria for the design of rubble-mound breakwaters. Existing theories and empirica] equations have been carefully reviewed and a new relation is proposed for the determination of optimum weight of armor unit of rubble-mound breakwater. A new parameter is introduced into the new semi-theoretical equation, which is closely related with the surface particle velocity of wave motion. The laboratory data reported by van der Meer(1987) were used for the determination of proper relations of empiricat parameters introduced into the new empirical equation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 2004

A method for the determination of concrete armor unit weights with hydraulic stability and structural stability may be formulated in this paper. The hydraulic stability is analyzed by using Hudson's formula, the structural stability is also studied by evaluation of maximum flexural tensile stresses in armor unit induced by the impact loads and by comparison of those with the tensile resistance strength directly. The applicable criteria for concrete armor units can be represented as a function of design wave heights with return period, armor weights, and tensile strengths for the practical uses. In addition, reliability analyses for two failure modes are carried out to take into account some uncertainties. Finally, a series system for two-failure mode analysis can be made up straightforwardly, by which the optimal weights of armor units can be estimated with the various relative breakages, given the specific target probability of failure under the concepts of reliability-based design method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.52-62
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• 2013

A stochastic Markov process (MP) model has been developed for evaluating the probability of failure of the armor unit of rubble-mound breakwaters as a function of time. The mathematical MP model could have been formulated by combining the counting process or renewal process (CP/RP) on the load occurrences with the damage process (DP) on the cumulative damage events, and applied to the armor units of rubble-mound breakwaters. Transition probabilities have been estimated by Monte-Carlo simulation (MCS) technique with the definition of damage level of armor units, and very well satisfies some conditions constrained in the probabilistic and physical views. The probabilities of failure have been also compared and investigated in process of time which have been calculated according to the variations of return period and safety factor being the important variables related to design of armor units of rubble-mound breakwater. In particular, it can be quantitatively found how the prior damage levels can effect on the sequent probabilities of failure. Finally, two types of methodology have been in this study proposed to evaluate straightforwardly the repair times which are indispensable to the maintenance of armor units of rubble-mound breakwaters and shown several simulation results including the cost analyses.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.86-96
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• 2003

A fracture or breakage of the concrete armor units in the primary cover layer of breakwaters is studied by using the reliability analysis which may be defined as the structural stability. The reliability function can be derived as a function of the angle of rotation that represents the rocking of armor units quantitatively. The relative influences of all of random variables related to the material and geometric properties on the fracture of armor units is analyzed in detail. In addition, the probability of failure for the fracture of individual armor unit can be evaluated as a function of the incident wave height. Finally, Bernoulli random process and the allowable fracture ratio may be introduced together in this paper, by which the probability of failure of a breakwater due to the fracture of armer units can be obtained straightforwardly. It is found that the probability of failure of a breakwater due to the fracture of armor units may be varied with the several allowable fracture ratios. Therefore, it should be necessary to consider the structural stability as well as the hydraulic stability for the design of breakwaters with multi-leg slender concrete armor units of large size under wave action in deep water.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.102-108
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• 2023

In this study, hydraulic model tests were performed to investigate the stability of armor units at harbor side slope for rubble mound structures. The armor units on the rear slope were rocks. The Korean design standard for harbor and fishery port suggested the design figures that showed the ratio of the armor weight for each location of rubble mound structures and it could be known that the same weight ratio was needed to the sea side and rear side slope of rubble mound structures. The crest elements were commonly applied to the design process of rubble mound structures in Korea and the investigation of the effects of super structures would be needed. The damage rate (S =2) was applied and the stable wave height was measured for each test condition. The results were suggested as the armor weight ratio of the rear side slope(armor rock) to the sea side slope (tetrapod) in relation to the relative crest height.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2008

A system of risk assessment is developed by using the reliability analysis which evaluate quantitatively both stability and performance of sloped-coastal structures according to several scenarios of sea-level rise. By using reliability functions on armor unit and run-up, the probabilities of failure can be straightforwardly calculated with respect to several design parameters such as nominal diameter of armor unit, slope of coastal structure, and freeboard height. By comparing the results before and after sea-level rise, it may be possible to exactly assess some ranges of decrease of stability and performance of sloped-coastal structure with respect to sea-level rise. Therefore, it can also be possible to make a decision which parameters should be repaired or strengthened in order to maintain the original stability and performance of sloped-coastal structures. Finally, The present results may be useful for designing some kinds of new sloped-coastal structures including the effect of sea-level rise.