Wave action on Coastal

Structures

Sea Walls
A structure separating land and water areas. It is
designed to prevent coastal erosion and other damage
due to wave action and storm surge, such as flooding.
Seawalls are normally very massive structures because
they are designed to resist the full force of waves and
storm surge. In practice, seawalls and revetments are
synonyms.

 A seawall is constructed at the coastline, at the foot of

possible cliffs or dunes.
A seawall is typically a sloping concrete structure; it can
be smooth, stepped-faced or curved-faced.
A seawall can also be built as a rubble-mound structure,
as a block seawall, steel or wooden structure.
The common characteristic is that the structure is
designed to withstand severe wave action and storm
surge.

 A rubble-mound revetment often protects the foot of such

non-flexible seawalls.
A rubble-mound seawall bears a great similarity to a rubblemound revetment; however a revetment is often used as a
supplement to a seawall or as a stand-alone structure at
less exposed locations.
An exposed dike, which has been strengthened to resist
wave action, is sometimes referred to as a seawall.

Vertical Sea Walls

Vertical seawalls are built in particularly exposed
situations. These reflect wave energy.
Under storm conditions a non-breakingstanding wave
pattern can form, resulting in a stationaryclapoticwave
which moves up and down but does not travel horizontally.
These waves promote erosion at the toe of the wall and
can cause severe damage to the sea wall.
In some cases piles are placed in front of the wall to lessen
wave energy slightly.

Vertical Sea Wall

Adv.

The first implemented, most easily

designed and constructed type of
seawall.
Vertical sea walls deflect wave energy
away from the coast.
Loose rubble can absorb wave energy.

Dis Adv.

These are partial to a lot of expensive

damage in a short period of time.

Vertical design can be undercut by highwave energy environments over a long

period of time.

Curved & Stepped Sea Walls

Curved or stepped seawalls are designed to
enable waves to break to dissipate wave energy
and to repel waves back to the sea.
The curve can also prevent the wave overtopping
the wall and provides additional protection for the
toe of the wall.

Curved & Stepped Sea Wall

Adv.
Concave
structure
introduces
a
dissipative element.
The curve can prevent waves from
overtopping the wall and provides extra
protection for the toe of the wall

Dis Adv.
More
complex
engineering
design process.
The deflected waves can scour
material at the base of the wall
causing them to become
undermined.

and

Mound Type Sea Wall

Mound type seawalls, usingrevetmentsorriprap, are used

in less demanding settings where lower energy errosional
processes operate.

The least exposed sites involve the lowest-cost bulkheads

and revetments of sand bags orgeotextiles.

These serve to armour the shore and minimise erosion and

may be either watertight or porous, which allows water to
filter through after the wave energy has been dissipated.

Mound Type Sea Wall

Adv.

Current designs use porous designs of

rock, concrete armour.
Slope and loose material ensure
maximum dissipation of wave energy.
Lower cost option.

Dis Adv.

Less durable.

Shorter life expectancy.

Cannot withstand or protect from

high-energy conditions effectively.