Abstract
It is well known that the current method designing a reinforcing embankment for a caisson type breakwater has some problems such as underestimating the load bearing capacity of the embankment. Thus, the present study established a new design method for the reinforcing embankment, based on the past research results. There are three features of the proposed method: 1) a new calculation method for load bearing capacity of the embankment, 2) introducing load distribution effects excerted by the embankment, and 3) relaxation of the present prescribed minimum size of the embankment. The size of embankment calculated by the proposed method would be smaller than one by the current method, and it was confirmed that it was sufficiently safe compared with model experiment results. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to understand the effect of the embankment shape change on the bearing capacity. Those showed that the increment of the height and width of the embankment were effective for the failures of sliding and bearing capacity, respectively. By employing the proposed method and understanding the results of sensitivity analysis, it would enable a more rational design of the reinforcing embankment.
