SCALING THE WEIGHT OF

HEMISPHERICAL SHAPE ARTIFICIAL REEF

Haryo Dwito Armono, Seabed and Underwater Engineering Laboratory, Department of Ocean
Engineering, Faculty of Marine Engineering, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Surabaya

Abstract
The term “artificial reefs“ is being used today by many researchers to refer to a variety of submerged
structures. Partial analysis can be used as a guideline to formulate a model law before physical modelling
of artificial reefs is conducted. However, when dealing with densimetric phenomena such as developing a
stability number for artificial reefs, a great care should be taken in using any dimensionless parameter as a
basis for formulating a model law. This paper describes the matrix method as an example of partial
analysis and using it to solve the problem in physical modelling of artificial reefs. A discussion on the
scaling the weight of hemispherical shape reefs is also given.

Introduction
Breakwaters, as example of coastal structures,
are usually adopted to protect and stabilize the
coastal area from the effect of waves and other
hydrodynamic forces. They are generally built
as water surface piercing structures, parallel to
the shore with crests above high water. Some
structures are designed to reflect wave energy,
while other structures attempt to decrease most
wave energy through wave breaking and
dissipation upon and within a permeable
structure.
Figure 1. Typical Hemispherical Artificial Reef
Submerged type breakwaters which their crest
below the water surface are being considered The complexities of the flow such as turbulent
more frequently as a ‘soft’ solution in solving flow occur in the vicinity of the reefs as well as
coastal engineering problems due to their breaking waves in the surface above. A rigorous
enhanced environmental attributes and or complete analysis is insufficient, when
economic advantage (Ahrens, 1987). Those dealing with complicated natural phenomena
breakwaters are called as low crested such as physical modelling of artificial reefs
breakwaters, submerged breakwaters, reef Therefore, to examine the wave breaking
breakwaters, or artificial reefs (Harris, 1995). phenomena and the turbulence around the
submerged body, partial analysis is utilized to
The popularity and different beneficial uses of
assess and describe the water phenomenon and
artificial reefs are growing rapidly. Various
establish the dimensionless stability number of
artificial reefs have been used to attract fish by
reefs.
producing coherent eddies with upward flow as
well as by providing hiding places for fish such Since the variables involved are fairly large, a
as “SAB Chamber Structure” model(6). Most of matrix analysis is used to solve the problem.
these reefs have rectangular shapes and caused After describing the matrix method as an
tearing of fishing nets. To reduce the tearing of example of partial analysis and using it to obtain
fishing nets, hemispherically shape reefs were dimensionless numbers (π-terms) in physical
proposed as alternatives, such as Cylinders modelling of artificial reefs, this paper will
shape, Turtle Block, and Reef Ball™ (Mottet, discuss the scaling of the weight of
1981; Barber, 2001) as shown in Figure 1. hemispherical shape reefs.
Partial Analysis By partitioning the matrix above into matrices A
and B, a matrix C can be obtained since A is
There are three basic methods of partial nonsingular matrix, where:
analysis: dimensional analysis, similitude
analysis or the methods of force ratios, and the C = A-1 .B …(4)
method of governing equations. Each provide
incomplete answer and the end results are  a1 1 a1 2 a13   a14 g g a1n 
usually a dimensionless functional suitable for A =  a21 a22 a23  , B =  a24 g g a2 n 
planning experimental studies (Sharp, 1981).  a31 a32 a3 3   a34 g g a3 n 
Although dimensional analysis does not give a
complete answer to problem, it gives a guide to
the way in which an experimental study should  c11 g g c1k 
be conducted, and then fairly complete and C =  c2 1 g g c2 k  …(5)

definition of the physical laws governing a
system under investigation can be obtained by
interpreting experimental results.
Some approaches are available in dimensional
analysis, such as Rayleigh’s Method, Bucking-
ham’s Method and Matrix Method. All these
methods provide an approach by which a
physical system is described in terms of the
appropriate variables x (i = 1,2,3…n) and these
i
variables are composed in terms of dimension-
less. For instance, there is a physical system that
can be described as a typical equation such as:
f (x1 , x2 , x3 , …, xn ) = 0 …(1)
This equation can be reduced to another
functional relationship in the form of:
φ (π , π , π ,… π ) = 0
1 2 3 k
where k < n (k, n ∈I) and π (1,2,3,…k) is a non-
i
 c31 g g c3 k 
Subscript k in the element of matrix C above
refers to the number of dimensionless variables.
In this case k = n – 3, as only three dimensions
are involved, namely, L, T and M.
Finally, with x1, x2, and x3 as the repeating
variables, an ith π-term is obtained by the
following relation:
xi
πi = c1 i c c
(6)
( x1 ) ( x2 ) 2 i ( x3 ) 3 i
Subscript i refers to the element of matrix C; i =
(1,2,3…k ), and the superscript c in the
denominator of the equation (6) refers to the
…(2) element of the matrix C in equation (5).
A dimensionless equation such as equation (2)

dimensional parameter usually referred to as a above can be multiplied by any constant or

raised to any power without destroying the
π- term (Sharp et al , 1992). If n variables and m
validity of the equation. This procedure is
dimensions are involved, a correct partial
known as compounding and is useful to guide
analysis will result in (n-m) dimension-less
the process to a convenient solution (Sharp,
parameters. As a result, it will provide k π-terms
1981). Compounding can be used to change an
where k = n - m.
inconvenient solution into a convenient one. For
Matrix method is applied when systems with a xample if three parameters involved in equation
large number of variables occur. The method is (2):
considered as powerful method due to its ϕ ( A, B ,C ) or A = ϕ ( B ,C)
capability to solve the systems simultaneously in then
governing π terms. The system can be solved by A = ( Bn C m , C ) or A = ( B nC m , B p C q )
using either the Echelon Matrix Procedure (Barr,
1985) or the Systematic Approach (Sharp and where: A, B and C are π-terms and each
Moore, 1988). Recalling equation (1) by exponent is constant which may be positive or
assuming xi, the dimensional matrix with L, T, negative.
and M as basic dimensions can be written as: Scaling the Weight of Hemispherical
x1 x2 x3 x4 • • xn Artificial Reefs
L a 11 a 12 a 13 a 14 • • a 1n The main variables used to describe the general
T a 21 a 22 a 23 a 24 • • a 2n geometry of a hemispherical artificial reef are
M a 31 a 32 a 33 a 34 • • a 3n given in the figure 2.
…(3)
 γ a1/3 H  d H h V h ∆ρ 
=ϕ  , , , w , 
[ (γ a / γ w ) −1]Wu1/3
 L L d µ / ρ w ρw 
…(11)
The dimensionless parameter on the left-hand
side can be referred as the Stability Number
(Hudson, 1979).
By writing S = (γ a / γ w ) and moving the weight
Figure 2. Reef Geometry
of model in the left hand side, results:
where Vw = water velocity in the vicinity of 3
reefs; H = Wave height; d = water depth in  H  (γ ) ( S −1)3 p
(Wa ) m = (Wa ) p  m  a m …(12)
vicinity of reefs; L = wavelength; g’ = reduced  H  (γ ) (S − 1)3
gravitational acceleration; ρ a = mass density of  p a p m

reefs; ρ w = mass density of water in the vicinity As an alternatives, by compounding equation

of reefs; ∆ρ =ρ ra - ρ w; h = height of the structure (11) and memorizing from equation (9) that
above the bottom; µ = dynamic viscosity of [ ∆ρ / ρw ] = [∆ρ / ρw ] means
m p
water in vicinity of reefs.
(S − 1)m = ( S − 1) p , Sharp, (1985) suggested:
When the density differences affect the flow, the
gravitational acceleration needs to be modified 3
 H  (γ ) (S − 1)m
to take account of buoyancy (Sharp, 1981). (Wa ) m = (Wa ) p  m  a m …(13)
Therefore, a body of artificial reef with density  H  (γ ) (S − 1)
 p a p p
ρ a surrounded by a fluid of density ρ w will
reduced the gravitational acceleration acting on It is pointed out that Hudson’s stability number
the body with the ratio: (equation (12)) is one of several possible combi-
nations that could be formed from dimensional
( ρ a − ρu ) gh 3 ∆ρ
g'= = g …(7) analysis consideration (Sharp, 1985). By
ρw h3 ρw compounding, one can obtain a multiplicity
form of the following equation depending on the
Refer to figure 1 above, a function for the value of n:
variables can be expressed as follows:
3 n
 H  (γ )  (S − 1) m 
ϕ (Vw , d , g ',H , h , L , µ , ∆ ρ, ρ w ) …(8) (Wa ) m = (Wa ) p  m  a m   …(14)
 H  (γ ) (S − 1) p 
 p a p
Solving by matrix method results:
For equation (12) n = -3, and n = 1 in equation
d H L V µ ∆ρ  (13). Both equation (12) and (13) are considered
ϕ  , , , 0.5 w 0.5 , 1.5 0.5 ,  =0
 h h h h g ' h g ' ρw ρ w  correct since [ ∆ρ / ρ w ] = [ ∆ρ / ρ w ] fulfilled.
m p
…(9)
Furthermore, an equation for stability number
or after compounding and retrieving the based on the similarity argument is suggested:
dimensionless Froude number: “In two similar systems, the ratios of any two
forces at homologous points must be the
Vw2  d H h V h ∆ρ  same”(Sharp, 1985). Therefore in this problem,
=ϕ  , , , w ,  …(10)
g 'h  L L d µ / ρw ρw  the two most important forces relevant to the
breakwater stability problems were the inertial
Substituting reduced gravitational acceleration force and the immersed weight of the structure,
(g’) in the left-hand side of equation (10) with expressed as :
equation (7) and by writing water velocity in
(γ a − γ w )
terms of wave height ( Vw ≈ gH ) and Fi = ρ w H 2Vw2 and Wi = …(15)
γw
diameter of reefs in terms of weight and specific
weight ( Wu ≈ γ u h 3 ) will lead to the other Taking the ratio of the inertial force to the
expression of equation (10) as follows: immersed weight force and Vw ≈ gH , then
delivering the ratio between prototype and
model gives the similitude requirement:
3
 H  (γ ) (S − 1) p
(Wa ) m = (Wa ) p  m  a m …(16)
 H  (γ ) (S − 1)
 p a p m hemispherical reefs than Hudson’s formula,
Equation (16) above is nothing but equation (14)
with n = -1
Assuming the specific weight of model (fresh
water) (γw)m = 9.8 kN/m3 prototype (salt
water) (γw)p = 10.05 kN/m 3 and taking the
same specific weight between model and
prototype for the reef; (γa)m = (γa )p = 30 kN/m3 ,
for a 1: 10 linear scale , equation (12), (13),
and (16) results respectively:
(Wa )m = 0.903 x 10-3 (Wa )p …(17)
-3
(Wa )m = 1.035 x 10 (Wa )p …(18)
(Wa )m = 0.966 x 10-3 (Wa )p …(19)
It is noted that equation (16) provides a better
basis for calculating the weights of model than
does equation (12) or (13). If the density ratio is
permitted to vary then great care should be taken
in using any dimensionless parameter containing
it, as a basis for formulating a model law (Sharp,
1985).
However, scaling by Hudson’s stability
parameter (equation 12) will produce more
conservative designs for stable structure because
the lighter models are more easily moved by
waves as resulted in the example above
(equation 17)
Conclusion
The development of a stability number for
hemispherical artificial reefs, which is
approached with matrix method, has been given.
Similar to breakwater armor units, in scaling of
the weight of hemispherical reefs, more
attention should be taken when dealing with
densimetric phenomenon in formulating a model
laws.
As previously noted, in scaling the weight of
artificial hemispherical reefs, the mass density
ratio between reefs and water of model and
prototype should be as same as given in
equation (11). However, satisfying those
equations might be difficult in practical
condition.
Resolving the problem by Sharp’s similarity
argument will give the reasonable result in the
developing of stability number for artificial
reefs. Therefore, it is better using equation (16)
as a basis for calculating the weight of
even so the formula gives conservative results.
References:
Ahrens, J. P., (1987). Characteristics of Reef
Breakwaters, Technical Report CERC - 87-17,
December 1987.
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www.artificialreefs.org/scientificreports/
ReffBallProjectPlanning.htm.
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