Stability of Armor Units on Composite Slopes

Abstract

Riprap and sandbag model tests are conducted in a wave flume to investigate the effects of berm‐type slopes on the stability of armor units and wave runup as compared to uniform slopes. Measurements of wave runup, rundown, wave height, breaker type and the response of armor units under regular wave action are made for each test run. The uniform and composite slope test results are analyzed using a modified Saville's method which accounts for the overall effects of the slope configuration on the stability of armor units and wave runup. A simple analysis procedure based on the proposed method is developed for a preliminary design of a berm configuration. An example computation is made for a composite slope protected with riprap. The berm width, the berm slope and the water depth at the shallowest point of the berm are varied so as to determine the optimal berm configuration for increasing the stability of riprap under the assumed wave conditions.