Guidelines for Design and Construction of Seawalls

Seawalls are emplaced for the protection of the seashore from upland erosion, sea encroachments and other damages caused by heavy waves. These massive concrete onshore structures are constructed to resist the heavy speed waves and storm surges as well. So, if you are looking for a construction company for undertaking sea wall construction projects, you have to search for a reliable one. The reason is that a trustworthy company always uses quality-tested materials in the construction of the seawalls.

Advantages/ Benefits of Seawalls

The prime objective behind the sea wall construction is that it protects the shoreline against erosion. Apart from it, it has several other benefits such as:

· These are long-lived and robust structures

· Best method to safeguard buildings and other important structures from the situation of flooding

· It is designed in a way to withstand crucial conditions like coastal floods.

· Construction of sea wall is a cost-effective method as compared to others

· In the construction of these robust seawalls, reinforced concrete, steel, boulders, gabions, and several other materials are used.

Guidelines for Design and Construction of Seawalls

Construction of seawall is a step-by-step procedure that includes:

1. Collection of Data

First of all, collect all the necessary data related to wave climates such as height, direction and period. Later on, add other information such as availability of differently sized stones, nature of the bed, etc. in the project file.

2. Choose the appropriate method for seawall construction

3. Develop a full-fledged design

· Start with the sea wall design

· Define the range of water level for the site, wave heights, profile of the beach after the monsoon and other relevant information.

· Choose the perfect location to design seawall beach or seawall

· Determine the seawall configuration

· Select appropriate armor to withstand the wave and choose armor unit size

· Define all possible approaches to fix the crest elevation, overtopping amount for low structures, and other necessary details.

· Don’t forget to add under-drainage features in the seawall construction design. Moreover, insert the detailing of the local surface and overtopping runoff as well.

· Flanking resulted in failure. So, don’t try to avoid this situation and make proper plan to get rid of it.

· Design under and filter layers, toe protection, etc.

· The sea wall demolition design plan should include detailing of materials used in the construction of seawalls.

· Cost planning

· Regular maintenance and repairing