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CE 707
Coastal, Port and Harbor Engineering

DESIGN OF GROYNE SYSTEMS

Source: Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University


(http://geo.msu.edu/extra/geogmich/coastalerosion.html) last accessed 11th Jan 2016

GROYNES
Groynes are a possible component of shore-protection, beachsaving, and sand-management alternatives
A divergent nodal region
in longshore transport
the central area of a
crenulated pocket beach,
in the border region of a
diffraction shadow zone
of a harbor breakwater or
jetty,
the curvature of the coast
changes greatly.

Divergent nodal regions with groin fields


Source: http://www.coastalreview.org/2013/08/bald-heads-battle-with-the-sea/ Photo:
Olsen Associates Inc.

no source of sand, such as


On the down-drift side of
a large harbor breakwater
or jetty.

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Intruding sand is to be managed, such as,


at the updrift side of an inlet entrance, harbor entrance, or
navigation channel
for stabilizing or anchoring the beach
for stockpiling material for bypassing across the inlet

sand movement alongshore is to be controlled or


gated,
to prevent undue loss of beach fill, while providing
material to downdrift beaches

T-Head Groins near South Lake Worth Inlet, Ocean Ridge, FL


(http://www.asbpa.org/publications/white_papers/ReintroducingStructuresforErosionControlFINAL.pdf)

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF GROYNE SYSTEMS

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COASTAL FEATURES AND PROCESSES

Typical coastal profile and distribution of the littoral drift along the coastal profile.

LENGTH OF GROYNE

Typical groyne position with respect to coastal processes

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LENGTH OF GROYNE
Appropriate choice of shapes, dimensions and location of groynes is
crucial for effectiveness of shore protection.
Groynes length is usually related to mean width of the surf zone and
on the other hand to their longshore spacing.
An active length of the groyne basically increases together with the
growth of wave-to-shoreline angle.
They should not trap the whole longshore sediment flux.
The groynes spread seawards not further than to 40-50% of the storm
surf zone width.

HEIGHT OF GROYNE

Effectiveness of the groynes depends also on their permeability. The


groynes which are either structurally permeable or submerged
(permanently or during high water levels) allow more sediment to
pass alongshore through them, in comparison to impermeable or high
groynes.
Pile groynes are usually permeable structures which does not affect
their efficiency.
The groynes height influences the amount of longshore sediment
transport trapped by the groynes.

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TYPES OF GROYNE
Generally, the groynes are designed to stick out about hs = 0.5-1.0 m
above the beach and the mean sea level (MSL).
Too high groynes cause wave reflection, resulting in local scours.
Considering the shape in plan view, the groynes can be straight, bent
or curved, as well as L-shaped, T-shaped or Y-shaped.

The most popular shapes and types of groynes

FUNCTION DESIGN OF GROYNE SYSTEMS


Functional design is demonstrated by applying shoreline
response model GENESIS to simulate the action of single
and multiple groyne
Functional design of Groyne involves
bypassing
permeability,
evolution of the shoreline in the groyne field and groyne
tapering
Groyne functioning depends on the balance between the
net and the gross longshore transport rate
Permeable groynes are large rocks, bamboo or timber
impermeable groynes (solid groynes or rock armour
groynes) are constructed using rock, gravel, gabions.

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DESIGN OF GROYNE SYSTEMS(Cont.)


For functional groyne design
1. Bypassing should be represented such that the shoreline
response to a groyne, including evolution of the shoreline
in time and its equilibrium plan form, depend on groyne
length (depth at tip of groyne), with an increase in length
increasing the impact of the structure on the shoreline.
2. Different groyne permeabilities should produce different
equilibrium plan forms, with increasing permeability
decreasing the impact of the structure on the shoreline.
3. A permeability of 100% should result in longshore sand
transport and shoreline evolution identical to that with no
groyne present.

DESIGN OF GROYNE SYSTEMS(Cont.)


Shoreline Response= f [groyne(s);beach; waves, wind,&
tide]
Spacing of Groyne on sandy beach =2 to 4 times the
groyne length (SPM suggests a spacing of 2 to 3)
Optimal spacing and groyne functioning depends on
Groyne length (depth at the groyne tip, which controls the
sand bypassing)
Groyne permeability or porosity (control sand throughpassing)
Groyne elevation and tidal range (control sand overpassing)
Predominant wave direction and height
Net and gross longshore transport
Sediment grain size ( transported as suspended load or bed
load)

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Design of Groyne System


In the shoreline response Model GENESIS,
The fraction of sand that passes a groyne (F) by being
transported over and through it (Hanson & Kraus 1989), is
given by
F = P(1 - B) + B
(1)
where 0 P 1 and 0 B 1 and
P = Permeability Factor
B = bypassing factor(amount passing around the seaward end)
Actual transport rate at the groin, QG* = F . QG
(2)
where QG is the potential rate at the groyne

Design of Groyne System(Cont.)


For a 100% permeability, i.e. by limi ng P1, the
calculation should give the same result as for no
groyne present Eq. 2 is required
Bypassing factor, B= 1- DG /DLT
(3)
where DG= depth at the groyne at a particular time step,
DLT is the depth of active longshore sand transport
DG= y2/3 ,where y is distance offshore
DLT = 1.6 Hs, where Hs =significant breaking wave height
(Hanson & Kraus 1989).
Eq.3 suggest that the parameter DG /H0 , characterize
the groyne bypassing, where H0 is the deep water wave
height.

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Single groyne
Shoreline change prediction at single groyne compared
for 4 transport distribution: rectangular on a planesloping profile, triangular with peak at the shore on a
plane-sloping profile and two similar distribution on an
equilibrium profile. In the test, median grain size 0.25
mm, was used to determine the equilibrium profile
shape, the groyne was 100 m long on an initially
straight shoreline, and waves were constant with deepwater height of 1 m, period of 8 sec, and angle of 20
deg. The model was run for 15 years and calculated
positions of the shoreline directly updrift of groyne
divided by the groyne length are plotted in Fig 1.

Single groyne (Cont.)

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Influence of Gross Longshore


transport for Single Groyne
Shoreline change in the vicinity of disturbances that
alter transport alongshore is controlled by the gross
transport rate as well as the net (Bodge 1992).
Single groyne was placed on the beach with initially
straight shoreline with the deep wave height as 1m
and period as 8 sec, and wave direction of 10 deg.
the net to gross transport ratio were changed from
Qn/Q g= 1, 0.5, 0.33, and 0.25 . The ratio Qn/Q g = 0.5,
with Qn= 300,000 cu m is the design condition for
Westhampton.
The length of the groyne YG was also varied in relation
to the width of the surfzone (to the breakpoint) YB on
the initially straight beach YG/YB = 0.5, 1, and 2.

Single groyne(Cont.)
Shoreline change calculated
on the updrift side of the
groynefor YG/YB =1.

Over the 5-year calculation interval, the


shoreline approaches the tip of the
groyne only if the gross and net rates are
equal.

Shoreline change with Qn/Qg = 0.5


for the three dimensionless
groynelengths YG/YB = 0.5, 1, and 2.

The updrift shoreline moves seaward


more rapidly as the relative groyne
length increases.

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Mutiple GroyneTests
The shoreline changes were calculate for a field of 7
groins with P=10% placed on an straight beach.
The groins were 100 m long with a spacing of
400m. Waves were Raleigh distributed in height
with significant H0 = 1 m, period 8 sec, and deepwater direction 10 deg. Grid spacing was 50 m and
time step was 6 hr. Fig. 4 shows calculated
shoreline change after 5 and 10 years.
Figure 5 tracks shoreline position over time

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Westhampton Beach is composed of fine to medium


sands, and the net transport rate has been estimated to
be on the order of 300,000 cu m/year to the west
(Panuzio 1968). Fig. 7 is an oblique aerial view of the
Westhampton groin field, looking east, with Groin 15 in
the foreground. Over the years, the groin field has very
successfully performed its intended local function of
reinforcing the historically weak section of barrier
beach by building a wide beach at the groin field and to
the east (updrift) (Nersesian et al. 1992). However, the
beach immediately to the west has eroded significantly
and was breached on December 18,1992, during a
strong subtropical storm.

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Design Problem
Design a groyne structure for Kingscliff Beach, NSW
The net annual longshore sand transport at the southern end
of Kingscliff Beach (Sutherland Point) is 518,000 m3/year
northward
The cross-shore distribution of littoral drift transport at
Kingscliff Beach was approximated from two other studies in
the region (Figure shown)

GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)

Comparison of the Cross-Shore Distribution of Longshore


Transport from Two Studies

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GROYNE DESIGN

Functional groyneDesign Plan View


Source: Coghlan et al. 2013

GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)

Functional Groyne Design Side View

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Development of Groyne Field Concept


Designs for Kingscliff Beach
Planning Horizon
A nominal design life of 50 years was adopted for the long term
groyne field
the maximum significant wave height that can reach the
structure is a function of design water level due to depth
limited wave conditions. The 1 in 100 year ARI event was
selected for both wave conditions (height, period and direction)
and water level conditions (tide plus anomaly)

Groyne Permeability
Based on the fact that there are no long-lasting permeable
groins on marine coastlines in Australia or worldwide and that
there are problems associated with damage to these structures
from wave impacts.
IMPERMEABLE type groins were selected for concept groyne
design

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GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)


GROYNE Length
Beach stabilization using groins is generally feasible in areas
characterized by a dominant direction of littoral drift
transport
The net annual longshore sand transport at the southern end
of Kingscliff Beach (Sutherland Point) is 518,000 m3/year
northward
The cross-shore distribution of littoral drift transport at
Kingscliff Beach was approximated from two other studies in
the region (Figure shown)
Based on these studies it was assumed that the groynes
would extend seaward to the -3 m AHD(Australian Height
Datum) contour for concept design of the long term groyne
field

Summary of Design conditions adopted for the


groyne field concept design

1 in 100 Year ARI(Average Recurrance Interval) Concept Design Conditions

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GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)


Groyne Spacing
Groynes on sandy beaches
perform best if their
spacing is two to four
times the groyne
length(Kraus et al.,1994,
also suggested by CEM
(USACE, 2006))
2 to 3 times groyne
length(based on SPM
1984)
Spacing is dependent on
the trade-off between
total groyne length and
nourishment volume, as
shown in Figure
Effect of Groyne Spacing on Nourishment
Volume

GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)


Groyne Orientation
the SPM (shoreline protection manual) (1984) recommendation of
orientation perpendicular to the coast was adopted for concept design
Groyne Crest Level and Width
The crest level of each of the proposed groins is influenced by several factors which
will minimize the amount of construction materials used, control sand movement
over the top of the groins and accommodate land-based construction equipment
that might operate directly on the structures.
For practical construction (above high tide level), a crest level of 1 m AHD was
adopted for core material along the full length of each groin.
Two layers of secondary armor would be placed over this core material and then
finished with a concrete slab roadway.
The resulting crest level would vary from 2.7 m AHD at the landward end to 3.2 m
AHD at the seaward end of each of the proposed groins.
A crest width for the core material of 3.0 m was adopted to facilitate access
during construction.

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GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)


Design Scour Level
At each groyne head, scour depth was determined based
on the following
Historical measurements of beach profile movement on
natural beaches;
Historical measurements of scour at the head of an existing
groyne; and
Erosion modelling

A design scour level of -5 m AHD was adopted on the


basis that the typical bed elevation at the head of each
groyne would be -3 m AHD (allowance for 2 m scour
depth)

GROYNE DESIGN (Cont.)


Groyne Field Layouts
Groyne locations were determined through
consideration of the location of existing structures

Groyne Construction Materials


Four different construction materials were assessed for
suitability for the long term groyne field, as follows:
Rock (greywacke or basalt);
Sand-filled geotextile containers;
Piles (timber or concrete); and
Concrete (Hanbars).

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Groyne Design(Cont.)

long term groyne field- Layout 1

Minimum Groyne Section

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Typical Groyne Section

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