Effects of seawall slopes on scour depth

This paper is aimed to study effects of seawall slopes on the scour depth i n front of seawalls. The study was performed by conducting a series of thre e dimensional hydraulic tests to produce short-crested waves, which is sign ificant in the scour in front of the structure. The scour depths in front of seawalls with varied front slopes were surveye d in the laboratory under different wave conditions. Results showed that th e scour depth is closely related to the Ursell parameter and the front slop e of the seawall. Besides, it is indicated that the scour depth in front of the seawall with front slope of tan theta = 1/4 is much less than that wit h tan theta = 1/2 or 1/3, but is only slightly more than that with tan thet a = 1/7. Since the seawall with tan theta = 1/7 possesses much larger secti on than that with tan theta = 1/4, the latter is suggested as a favourite o ption for the front slope of the seawall.