OVERTURNING OF CAISSONS BY STORM WAVES

Abstract

This paper concerns the stability against overturning of the caissons on rubble mound subjected to wave loading. A theoretical discussion is first made of the stability of a leaning caisson during wave loading, as a single degree-of-freedom system. The expression for the lower bound of driving moments sufficient to overturn a given caisson is derived. A review is then made of the damages induced to a composite breakwater, which consisted of two adjoining Stretches B and C with slightly different sizes of caissons. Attention is called for the observation that most of the caissons in Stretch B were overturned, whereas no caissons in Stretch C were brought into overturning. This fact is examined in detail in the light of the theory of overturning, making it possible to estimate the destructive wave heights that are compatible with the observed patterns of damage in Stretches B and C of the composite breakwater.