35409 - Coastal Engineering

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course is to provide tools for static analysis and basic skills for the evaluation of coastal structures impact and design. The course will introduce and describe processes that characterize the oceanic and littoral environment and provide tools for the analysis and design of coastal defences, harbours and offshore structures. Observations and physical intuition for understanding physical processes are emphasized.

Course contents

Marine environment. Sea level: long period variation, tide, storm surge. Wind: generation, measurements and statistics. Currents due to tide, wind and density. Waves: Airy theory for propagatory and stationary waves, solitary wave, breaking, reflection, refraction and diffraction, irregular waves and characteristic parameters, wave generation by wind, generation and propagation zones.

Ships and navigation. Ships characteristics and dimensions. Ship dynamics and control. Route signals. Entrance, exit and quay approach manoeuvres. Simulation models. Approach channel and manoeuvre area dimensions.

Harbor design. Industrial and turistic harbor layout: exemples, criteria and trend. Acceptable agitation in harbors related to ships and operations. Contents of general harbour plan, preliminary and final design. Impact on adjacent littorals and territories.

Harbor plants and equipments. Displacement and stocking of generic wares and containers; specialized terminals. Organisation of space on quay, road system. Touristic harbour, specialized equipment.

Harbor works. Rubble mound breakwaters: shapes, elements and functions. Construction yard. Failure modes and design checks. Armor layer, berms, sublayers, hydraulic stability and structural resistance, permeability and loss of fine materials. Run up, overtopping, crownwall and inner armor hydraulic stability. Geotechnical stability and settlement. Vertical wall breakwaters: types, elements, functions and construction. Failure modes and design checks. Pressure on the wall and its stability, crownwall stability. Foundation rubble mound, hydraulic and geotechnical checks. Dynamics under breaking waves. Quaywalls and piers: types and functions. Soil pressure and wall stability. Wave absorbing elements. Wave action on piles. Loading of approaching and at berth ships. Quay services and related loading, functional requirements. Cyclopean block or caisson walls, sheet piles, piers. Bollards and fenders. Docks and locks.

Offshore works. Approach channel and dredging. Fixed and floating offshore platforms, mooring systems.

Readings/Bibliography

J.W. Kamphuis, Introduction to coastal engineering and management, 2nd ed, World Scientific, 30/jun/2010 - 525 pp, ISBN9812834850, 9789812834850

USACE, Coastal Engineering Manual.

Teaching methods

The course is composed by lectures and exercizes. During lectures principles are explained with exemples. During exercize classes two simple projects are proposed to small groups of students and verified.

Assessment methods

Exercize projects are verified at the end of the course, personal preparation is verified by a short oral exam.

Teaching tools

Lectures. Notes and auxiliary materials given in class or accessible through the teacher web site.

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Lamberti

See the website of Renata Archetti