ABSTRACT
This caused a reduction of the inherent safety factor of the traditional structure that went unnoticed. The failure of a number of large rubble mound breakwaters triggered a more analytical approach to the design of such structures. One of the first systematic works on this subject was the CIAD report (Anon. [1984]) on the reliability of breakwater design. It was soon followed by a more comprehensive study by PIANC PTC II Working Group 12 (Anon. [1995]). The PIANC study not only presented methods for probabilistic analysis at levels I, II and III, but also gave recommendations for the values of partial safety coefficients based on a general probabilistic analysis. In the mean time, PIANC started a new working group to carry out a similar study for monolithic breakwaters. The publication of the report of this working group is expected in 2000. For closure dams, a systematic probabilistic analysis has been published, as Appendix A in the CUR/RWS Manual on the Use of Rock in Hydraulic Engineering (Anon. [1995]).
