CASE HISTORIES OF CORPS BREAKWATER AND JETTY STRUCTURES
PACIFIC OCEAN DIVISION
PART I:
INTRODUCTION
Background
The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is responsible for a wide
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variety of coastal structures located along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
the gulf coast, the Great Lakes, the Hawaiian Islands, other islands, and in-
land waterways. Coastal improvements such as breakwaters or jetties are
necessary where a safe harbor or navigation is required. These structures are
subjected continuously to wave and current forces and usually are constructed
on top of movable-bed materials. Under these conditions structural deteriora-
tion can occur and, at some point, maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation is
required if the structure deteriorates and/or fails to serve the existing
needs of the project. Some of these projects have been maintained for
150 years or more. Methods of construction and repair have varied signifi-
cantly during this time, principally because of a better understanding of
coastal processes, availability of construction materials, existing wave cli-
mates, regional construction practices, and economic considerations.
Purpose
The purposes of this report are to lend insight into the scope, mag-
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nitude, and history of coastal breakwaters and jetties under Corps jurisdic-
tion; determine their maintenance and repair history; determine their methods
of construction and make this information available to Corps personnel; and to
address objectives of the Repair, Evaluation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation
(REMR) Research Program. To accomplish these objectives, case histories of
Corps breakwater and jetty structures have been developed to quantify past and
present problem areas (if any), to take steps to rectify these problems, and
to evaluate remedial measures. General design guidance can be obtained from
those solutions that have been most successful. Information in this report
should be of particular value to Corps personnel in the US Army Engineer
Division, Pacific Ocean (POD), and its coastal districts and possibly non-
Corps personnel.
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