Breakwater

Definition

Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defense or to protect an

anchorage from the effects of both weather and longshore drift. Offshore breakwaters, also
called bulkhead, reduce the intensity of wave action in inshore waters and thereby reduce
coastal erosion or provide safe harborage. Breakwaters may also be small structures designed
to protect a gently sloping beach and placed one to three hundred feet offshore in relatively
shallow water.

A breakwater typically comprises various stone layers and is typically armoured with large
armour stone or concrete armour units (an exception are e.g. vertical (caisson) breakwaters).
A breakwater can be built at the shoreline or offshore (detached or reef breakwater).

Method

A breakwater structure is designed to absorb the energy of the waves that hit it, either by using
mass (e.g., with caissons), or by using a revetment slope (e.g., with rock or concrete armour
units). In Coastal Engineering, a revetment is a land backed structure whilst a breakwater is a
sea backed water (water on both sides).

Caisson breakwaters typically have vertical sides and are usually erected where it is desirable
to berth one or more vessels on the inner face of the breakwater. They use the mass of the
caisson and the fill within it to resist the overturning forces applied by waves hitting them. They
are relatively expensive to construct in shallow water, but in deeper sites they can offer a
significant saving over revetment breakwaters.

Rubble mound breakwaters use structural voids to disperse the wave energy. Rock or
concrete armor units on the outside of the structure absorb most of the energy, while gravels
or sands prevent the wave energy's continuing through the breakwater core.

The slopes of the revetment are typically between 1:1 and 1:2, depending upon the materials
used. In shallow water, revetment breakwaters are usually relatively inexpensive. As water
depth increases, the material requirements, and hence costs, increase significantly.
Characteristics

When oncoming waves hit breakwaters, their erosive power is concentrated on these
structures, which are some distance away from the coast. This creates an area of slack water
between the breakwaters and the coast. Sediment deposition can thus occur in these waters
and beaches can be built up or extended there.

Breakwaters also prevent nearby unprotected sections of beaches from receiving fresh
supplies of sediments and they may gradually shrink due to erosion in a process known as
longshore drift. On the other hand, breakwaters can also encourage erosion of beach deposits
from their base and thus increase longshore sediment transport.

Breakwaters are subject to damage and overtopping by big storms can lead to big problems
with draining any water that gets behind them.

Advantages

 Prevents beach from getting eroded by destructive waves

Some shorelines have homes and businesses built on them close to the water. As the
waves hit the shore, the land slowly erodes into the waves. Over time, this puts the
structures and their value at risk.

 Recreational Opportunities

Breakwaters can create isolated areas of water that can be used for recreational
purpose. The calm waters are perfect for swimming, boating, waterskiing, and other
similar activities. This can even bring in tourism dollars depending on the location.

 Habitat Access

Breakwaters don’t interfere with wildlife habitats. They may change how wave
transmission energy occurs, but this doesn’t change the fact that animals will still have
a place that they can call home.
Disadvantages

 They are not always effective.

If a region is subjected to fast-paced, high energy waves, then a breakwater isn’t going
to provide any benefit. They can become detached from their moorings, have high
maintenance costs, and still allow erosion to occur. Even semi-permanent fixed
breakwaters struggle under these circumstances.

 They create a new set of environmental dangers.

Many local ecosystems have toxins that float out of them while the waves bring
nutrients in. When a breakwater is created and put into place, this transportation
method is disrupted and can create toxic conditions.

 Many do not provide emergency protection.

If a severe storm were to encounter a breakwater, either floating or fixed, then there is
a good chance that the increased wave energy could overwhelm the structure. This
means additional structures, at an additional cost, would be needed to provide a
necessary level of protection