ABSTRACT

The design of a breakwater is not only an application of theory, but is also largely based on experience, therefore this chapter attempts to combine a set of simple rules into a design manual. However, it is felt that a set of design rules can never satisfactorily solve a design problem so it is essential to look into cross-sections of existing breakwaters, while reading this chapter. To facilitate this process, some examples of breakwaters in the Netherlands have been given in one of the appendices. Studying this chapter with some degree of success is only possible if one analyzes the examples at the same time and wonders why the specific designs have been followed.