The propagation of wave impact induced pressures into cracks and fissures
The propagation of wave impact induced pressures into cracks and fissures
Rock cliffs and blockwork coastal structures often suffer a peculiar type of damage, whereby individual blocks are removed out of their location towards the sea. The location of damage suggests that breaking wave action is the main cause. It has been suggested that wave impact pressures travel into the water or air filled cracks and fissures of the structures, leading to large pressures acting inside of the structure or cliff and to the removal of blocks. This assumption was only recently confirmed for water filled cracks with a series of model tests at Queen's University Belfast. Real cracks in rock cliffs are, however, often only partially filled with water. A new experimental study, also conducted at Queen's University Belfast, revealed that wave impact generated pressures can ravel into both fully or partially water filled cracks or joints. In partially submerged cracks the pressure pulse was found to travel in the air, propagating fast and with little attenuation deep into the structure, signifying that partially filled cracks are potentially more dangerous for the integrity of the structure than completely water filled cracks. These pressure pulses may be the main cause for the seaward removal of blockwork in coastal engineering structures or of rock cliff material.
1862391505
121-130
The Geological Society of London
Wolters, G.
7cd28c2b-3034-42e7-b2b7-68bbb91af817
Muller, G.U.
f1a988fc-3bde-429e-83e2-041e9792bfd9
10 March 2004
Wolters, G.
7cd28c2b-3034-42e7-b2b7-68bbb91af817
Muller, G.U.
f1a988fc-3bde-429e-83e2-041e9792bfd9
Wolters, G. and Muller, G.U.
(2004)
The propagation of wave impact induced pressures into cracks and fissures.
In,
Coastal Chalk Cliff Instability.
(Geological Society London Engineering Geology Special Publications, 20)
The Geological Society of London, .
(doi:10.1144/GSL.ENG.2004.020.01.09).
Record type:
Book Section
Abstract
Rock cliffs and blockwork coastal structures often suffer a peculiar type of damage, whereby individual blocks are removed out of their location towards the sea. The location of damage suggests that breaking wave action is the main cause. It has been suggested that wave impact pressures travel into the water or air filled cracks and fissures of the structures, leading to large pressures acting inside of the structure or cliff and to the removal of blocks. This assumption was only recently confirmed for water filled cracks with a series of model tests at Queen's University Belfast. Real cracks in rock cliffs are, however, often only partially filled with water. A new experimental study, also conducted at Queen's University Belfast, revealed that wave impact generated pressures can ravel into both fully or partially water filled cracks or joints. In partially submerged cracks the pressure pulse was found to travel in the air, propagating fast and with little attenuation deep into the structure, signifying that partially filled cracks are potentially more dangerous for the integrity of the structure than completely water filled cracks. These pressure pulses may be the main cause for the seaward removal of blockwork in coastal engineering structures or of rock cliff material.
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Published date: 10 March 2004
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Local EPrints ID: 53609
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/53609
ISBN: 1862391505
PURE UUID: 3c90076d-af06-4fb5-8104-55e6f51dd349
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Date deposited: 25 Jul 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:41
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Author:
G. Wolters
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