Seawall Design

Book excerpt: Seawall Design focuses on all aspects of seawall design, from the broader issues of coastal management and other options for coastal defense and environmental assessment, to problem definition and project planning; data collection and interpretation; conceptual and detailed design; design for construction and maintenance; and materials to be used. The reader is guided with respect to the range of potential problems, their definition, and possible solutions, as well as the key functional requirements of a seawall and the methods of design to take due account of engineering and environmental and economic considerations. Comprised of eight chapters, this book begins with an overview of the principal function of a seawall and the guidelines for seawall design covering all relevant considerations including environmental aspects, construction, and long-term management. The discussion then turns to regular monitoring of coastal management, options for coastal defense, and the impact of phased works on coastal management. Subsequent chapters deal with project planning and environmental aspects of seawall design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; and overall concept and types of seawall structure;. Design considerations for a seawall are described, starting with hydraulic performance, the overall stability of the embankment and coastal cliffs as well as structural loads. The book concludes with an assessment of financial and economic considerations in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of seawalls. This monograph is intended for engineers involved in the planning and design of seawalls.