Proceedings of the 2nd Makassar International Conference on Civil Engineering

(MICCE 2015)Makassar, Indonesia, August 11-12, 2015

THE EFFECT OF POROSITY OF REVETMENT AGAINST WAVE REFLECTION

Aswar 1, Arsyad Thaha 2 and Rita Lopa3

Abstract: Porous revetment is a new model in the coastal protection system and is expected to reduce the impact of
wave reflection when it comes hit the revetment. The aim of this study is to obtain the amount of reduction in wave
reflection due to the porosity of the revetment. Two porous revetment models tested in this study in which the value of
the S/D represents the pore structure (S is the distance between the holes and D is the diameter of the hole). The results
show that the porosity of the revetment is able to reduce wave reflection. Reduced wave reflection was 5% - 20% in the
presence of this porosity.

Keywords: Perforated revetment, wave reflection

1 Student at Magister Program on Civil Engineering Department, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan km. 10, Makassar,
90245, INDONESIA
2 Doctor in Civil Engineering Department, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan km. 10, Makassar, 90245, INDONESIA
3 Doctor in Civil Engineering Department, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan km. 10, Makassar, 90245, INDONESIA
 Aswar Amiruddin, et al

INTRODUCTION
Reflected waves may lead to danger to vessels navigating close to structure, and may reduce the availability of
berths within the harbor. Wave reflection may also increase local scour or general reduction in sea bed levels. In the
design of breakwaters, seawalls, and coastal revetments, it is therefore important to estimate and compare the reflection
performance of alternative structure types. Research to reduce reflection have been carried out by physical model,
including increase crest of revetment, make a rough wall or porous wall on revetment and reducing wave energy to the
revetment wall by building obstacles.
Allsop and Hettiarachchi (1988), indicated rubble breakwaters, seawalls, and revetments will dissipate
significantly more wave energy than the equivalent non-porous slope. Recent investigations (Oumeraci et al. 2010 &
Oumeraci et al. 2012) indicated that the preservation of the pore structure is of fundamental importance due to its effect
on the hydraulic performance and on the wave loading of the revetment and its foundation. Especially aging processes,
marine growth (e.g. Barnacles or shells, growing on and in the revetment) and sediment deposition in the pores may
affect the porosity of the structure over time. In this context, it is crucial to know the porosity reduction, which may
substantially affect the wave loads and the hydraulic performance, and which may thus result in structural or functional
failures.

LITERATURE
The distribution of the amount of wave energy thats reflected, dissipated, and transmitted depends on the characteristic
of the arriving waves (wave height and period), coastal protection type (rough or smooth surface, permeable or
impermeable) and the dimension also protection geometry (slope, elevation, and the barrier width) also the surrounding
environmental condition (water depth and coastal base contour). The amount of waves thats dissipated (Hd) is the
arriving waves high (Hi) reduced by the reflected and transmitted high (Ht). The wave parameter according to Airy
theory is the parameter based on the assumption of a harmonic sinusoid (Triatmodjo, 1999), with few wave
characteristics, those are the wavelength (L), the complete description will be shown below. Several used notations are:

Figure 1. Wave Airy Theory, (Triatmodjo, 1999)

d : distance between still water level and sea floor

(x,t) : fluctuation toward mean water level
a : wave amplitude
H : wave height = 2a
L : wave length
T : wave period, time interval thats needed by water particle to return to the same point similar to prior point
C : wave velocity = L/T
k : wave index 2/L
: wave frequency 2/T

The Figure 1 shows that the wave moves with the velocity of C in the water with depth of d. in this case, the moving
element is just the water level form. Unlike the river basin in which the water (mass) particle moves in one closed orbit
so that it doesnt move forward. A buoy in the sea will only move up and down following the wave and does not move
(in the wave direction) from its origin point. Position of particles every moment of the orbit moves is given by
horizontal coordinate () and vertical () towards central orbit. The vertical velocity is u and v, and water level elevation
towards the still water (x axis) in every point is .

METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted with a 2D physical model in the Laboratory of Hydraulics and Coastal Engineering,
Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Hasanuddin University Gowa. Model revetment with porous surfaces such
as concrete blocks with a slope of 30. To be able to determine the effect of several variables on the reflection of the
wave, then the simulation. Two types of models are distinguished on the value of perforations (S/D) with S is space
between perforation and D is the diameter of perforation hole. Value S/D for model-1 is 2,333 and the value of S / D for
model-2 is 1,75. Models that were tested in the present study can be seen in Figure 2. The model simulated by each of
three kinds of wave high (H) and wave period (T) and 3 kinds of water depth (d). To meet the scaling requirements of
all variables, then used a geometric scale 1:20.

Figure 2. Model-1 and Model-2

Pembangkit gelombang
tipe Flap
Mistar Ukur
Model Revetment Kamera
Blok Beton Berpori

Hi + Hr S.W.L

Figure 3. Experimental setup on laboratory

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Based on research obtained wave reflection is reduced in the presence of porosity in the revetment. Reflected waves is
reduced by 5% - 20% with the porosity of the revetment. The effect of porosity on wave reflection can be seen in the
Figure 4. While the relation between HiS/DL parameter and reflection coefficient (Cr) can be seen in the Figure 4.

(a)
 (b)

(c)

Figure 4. Relationship between wave steepness (Hi/L) and reflection coefficient (Cr), with depth
(a) 15 cm, (b) 20 cm, (c) 25 cm

Figure 4. Shows that the variation of the reflection coefficient (Cr) depend on wave steepness. Higher wave steepness
(Hi/L) causes large wave dissipation and less reflection. While the effect of porosity on revetment seen on the graph
where the reflection wave in model-2 is smaller than the wave reflection on the model-1.

Figure 5. Relationship between HiS/DL parameter and reflection coefficient (Cr)

Figure 5. shows the relationship between parameter HiS/DL (relative wave steepness) and Cr (reflection coefficient)
where higher relative wave steepnes (HiS/DL) causes large wave dissipation and less reflection in agreement with Suh
et al (2006) that found that increasing wave steepness leads to less reflection and Faraci et al (2012), Thaha A et al
(2013) Altomare et al (2013), who confirmed those results. The result from Altomare et al (2013) research can be seen
in Figure 6. From this research obtained the empirical equation for Cr is :

0.217
= 0,1745 [ ]

With Cr = reflection coefficient; Hi = Incident wave high; S = Space between perforation; D = Diameter perforation; L
= Wave length (calculated using wave period).

Figure 6. Reflection coefficient v's Wave steepness, (Altomare et al, 2013)

CONCLUSION
1. It was found that the reflection coefficient (Cr) decreases as the wave steepness (Hi/L) increase.
2. Perforated revetment can decrease the reflection coefficient (Cr) until 20%.
3. Equations obtained in this research only applies to regular wave and slope structure 30.

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