Breakwaters
An offshore structure (as a wall) protecting a harbor or beach from the force of waves.
Stage 1: Applying Breakwaters
Stage 1: Applying Breakwaters
Unlike traditional shoreline rip rap, a breakwater protects the shoreline from constant wave stress by "breaking" the waves before reaching the bank. Thus, there is spacing between the bank and the rip rap.
Stage 2: Development of the Land
Stage 2: Development of the Land
As the bank stabilizes, the bank angles becomes gentle, allowing natural vegetation to occur.
Stage 3: Soil Restoration
Stage 3: Soil Restoration
Some banks can naturally regrow the vegetation lost to erosion in as little as 3 years.
Rip rap breakwaters are a successful solution to these severely eroded areas where a typical rip rap revetment design would not prevail cost-effective because of the additional tonnage of rock required.