A Robust Armor Design to Face Uncertainties

A new rubblemound breakwater cross section design named D-armor breakwater is presented. The D-armor cross section shows a significantly larger active armor area than the conventional cross section. The D-armor breakwater shows a similar resistance to the initiation of damage, but a significant increase of resistance to total failure. The observed structural response has a wave height range about 30% wider than the range corresponding to the conventional breakwater; the new section reshapes to an efficient S-shape armor near the total failure point. The D-armor breakwater appears to be a reasonable first step towards a convenient evolution from the conventional breakwater to more efficient designs; the wider structural response makes it appropriate for construction sites with large uncertainties in the estimation of the worst wave conditions in its lifetime.