Experimental parametric study of the new Al Faw Port rubble mound breakwater

This paper describes some of the physical model studies performed for the design of the breakwaters of the "New Al Faw Port" (Republic of Iraq). This specific experimental study aimed to verify the influence of several geometric characteristics of the breakwater and to reduce the uncertainties associated with empirical design formula for stability and wave overtopping. The structure of the breakwater is characterized by the presence of (i) a crown wall on the core of the structure, (ii) a filter layer deployed over a core material and (iii) a submerged berm. A set of ten different configurations of the breakwater section have been tested at a Froude scale 1:20. A total of about 120 experimental tests were performed in order to catch the influence of the breakwater configuration on both the overtopping performances of the structures and its stability. Empirical formulations for overtopping mean discharge and stability of the armor layer are presented.