Scale Effects Related to Small Physical Modelling of Overtopping of Rubble Mound Breakwaters

Most coastal structures suffer a certain degree of overtopping, because in most situations it is not economically feasible to construct coastal structures high enough to prevent wave overtopping. Certain functions of the breakwater impose restrictions to the allowable overtopping discharge in order to avoid damage to the breakwater itself and to objects located behind the breakwater. Extreme overtopping events result in water and spray thrown over the crest with considerable velocities. These events can be extremely dangerous as people, cars and even trains have been washed into the sea. Buildings are quite often damaged.