Stability analysis of composite breakwater with wave-dissipating blocks considering increase in sea levels, surges and waves due to climate change

Abstract

Settlement of wave-dissipating blocks in front of caisson is caused by displacement and breakage of blocks directly by wave action and also by sliding of the caisson by wave force. The settlement of blocks, caisson sliding and wave pressure are mutually correlated. The present study has developed a stability analysis method for a composite breakwater with wave-dissipating blocks under the circumstances of climate change effect as seen in sea level rise and increase in storm surges and waves. It is found that the changes of expected caisson sliding distance and necessary caisson width, determined from the allowable excess probabilities for three prescribed sliding distances, against the weight of wave-dissipating block have a tendency to be maximum at certain block weight when repairing of damaged blocks is not done; on the other hand, if repairing is done every time after reaching 5% damage level of the total section, the changes of caisson sliding distance and necessary caisson width against the block weight show monotonous decrease. The effects of climate change on the sliding distance and necessary width are found to make those values larger by 10–60% than those calculated by constant external forces given from the present climate conditions.