Xbloc

Large Xblocs (8.0m3) on a trial placement area

An Xbloc is an interlocking concrete block (or "armour unit") designed to protect shores, harbour walls, seawalls, breakwaters and other coastal structures from the direct impact of incoming waves. The Xbloc model has been designed and developed by Delta Marine Consultants since 2001 and has been subjected to extensive research by several universities.

Usage

Concrete armour units are generally applied in breakwaters and shore protections. The units are placed in a single layer as the outer layer of the coastal structure. This outer layer is called the armour layer. The function of the armour layer in these structures is twofold. Firstly, it shall protect the finer material below the armour layer against severe wave action. Secondly, the armour layer shall dissipate the wave energy in order to reduce the wave run-up, overtopping and reflection. These two functions require a heavy, but porous armour.

Common factors to apply single layer concrete armour units are:

Also compared to older concrete armour units, as e.g. Tetrapod which are normally placed in double layer as for rock protection, modern single layer armour units involve significantly less concrete. Therefore, less construction material (cement, gravel) is required, reducing costs and also the carbon footprint of coastal protection works.

Concrete blocks used for the same purpose are listed amongst others in . Like Xbloc, most of these blocks are commercial developments and patented. As such Xblocs are not produced by the patent holder, but are fabricated and installed by a contractor who in return pays a license fee. Such an agreement involves certain technical support activities to ensure the correct application of the protection system.

Hydraulic stability and interlocking mechanism

The Xbloc armour unit derives its hydraulic stability from its self-weight and by interlocking with surrounding units. Due to the highly porous armour layer (layer porosity of almost 60%) constructed with Xbloc units, the energy of the incoming waves will be largely absorbed. The Xbloc armour layer is therefore able to protect the rock in the under layer from erosion due to waves. Besides empirical formulae derived from physical model testing, the interaction between breakwater elements (submerged or emerged) and waves as well as the filtration of the fluid into the porous breakwater has been investigated amongst others by MEDUS, based on RANS equations coupled with a RNG turbulence model.

Xblocs are typically applied on an armour slope steepness between 3V:4H and 2V:3H. Unlike natural rock, the hydraulic stability does not increase at shallower slope inclinations, because in that situation the interlocking effect is reduced. Standard Xbloc sizes vary between 0.75m3 (significant wave height up to Hs = 3.35m) and 20m3 (Hs = 10.0m). It shall be noted that the given relation between design wave height and volume size is valid for concept stage only. Further parameters as foreshore slope, crest configuration, construction equipment, etc. can have an important effect on the recommended unit size (refer to Guidelines). For detailed design, in particular for non standard situations, physical model tests are essential and normally carried out to confirm overall stability and functional performance of a breakwater (wave overtopping and/ or wave penetration).

The effect of interlocking is apparent when comparing a rock revetment with a modern single layer unit for average boundary conditions while taking into account the lower specific density of concrete compared to most natural rock commonly used in breakwater construction. Assuming that natural rock would be placed at identical slope steepness, the individual rock weight would require to be 3 times as high compared to Xbloc units. Rock is generally to be placed as double layer, thus the volume of armour material which needs to be quarried, stored, handled, transported and installed can be enormous for a larger breakwater exposed to significant wave action. Due to the interlocking effect the weight and thus the volume of single layer armour units is considerably less compared to an armour consisting entirely of rock. In addition units are normally fabricated near or at project site, so that transport issues are less critical.

Production of armour units

Production of Xbloc single layer armour units using concrete pump

The Xbloc consists of non-reinforced concrete, similar to other single layer armour units. Ordinary concrete C25/30 is normally appropriate for the production of Xbloc armour units. However, often concrete of higher strength is applied for other reasons, e.g. early strength for faster de-moulding, ice loads, etc. By omitting reinforcement, time and costs are cut and the armour units are less vulnerable against corrosion damages in the long term. The optimal shape of a single layer armour unit combines the robustness of a compact concrete body with the slenderness required for interlocking. The structural integrity is normally confirmed by finite element calculations (FEM) and prototype drop tests.

Although both wooden and steel moulds can be used to construct the Xbloc formwork, steel moulds are preferred as they can be used repetitively to produce large numbers of armour units. Various mould designs, consisting of 2 sections, are applied. The moulds are either vertically or horizontally assembled. Pouring and compaction of concrete is done simultaneously. An appropriate formwork design is facilitating the stripping of the moulds at an early stage and prevents to large extent from honey combing, surface bubbles and striking damages.

Due to the shape of the Xbloc unit, a relatively simple formwork can be used which is made of a limited number of different steel plates. Since a single Xbloc unit can weigh up to 45 tons, the construction is done as close as possible to the area of application.

Placement

In contrast to the placement of other interlocking concrete blocks, the Xbloc unit does not have very stringent specifications about the orientation of each unit on a breakwater slope. Because of the shape of the Xbloc, each of the 6 sides of the unit is efficiently interlocking. Therefore, the blocks easily find a position that fully activates the interlocking mechanism. This increases the rate of placing armour units on a slope.

Due to the random structure and high porosity of an Xbloc breakwater, an artificial reef habitat is created for various species of marine fauna and flora.

See also

References

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