Protection du littoral par brise-lames successifs. Première application en Grèce - Ile de Skyros

Protection of the coast by successive breakwaters Initial assessment in Greece (Skyros island)

Rogan Associates Consulting Engineers-Architects, Athènes, Grèce

Abstract

In the case of a coast exposed to swells from different directions, protection by isolated breakwaters emerging from the water can be very efficient on condition that sedimentary movements are mainly transversal. If the protection is composed of successive breakwaters the spacing between these breakwaters plays a vital role in determining the behaviour of the protected beach. Spacing that is shorter that the length of the adjacent breakwaters could lead to a major accumulation of sediments sheltered from the works and this is often undesirable for reasons of pollution. Moreover, such a system of coastal protection, in which the spacing between the breakwaters is less that the length of the breakwaters, seems to have the same consequences on the beach of the shore as a long breakwater. Therefore there is a risk that a tombolo will be formed, connecting to the constructions after a certain period of time.