Ocean front properties are exposed to the greater hazard of the long period swells.  These swells were originally generated as waves at some great distance away (possibly across some ocean or at least near a distant shore.  The long period waves do not respond to the more common methods of wave mitigation such as floating breakwaters, etc.  They need the barrier islands offshore to protect the beach from eroding away.  In some cases, the barrier islands have been damaged by severe storms or even destroyed.  To try to mitigate the effect of this degradation and to eventually restore beach front protection, artificial reefs may be provided.

Wavebraakker™ offers a solution to this persistent problem.  Sections of the standard floating system are perforated to allow them to free flood and sink to the sea floor.  The stainless steel end connection pieces and the intermediate configuration control plates provide additional weight to overcome the natural buoyancy of the polyethylene material of the modules.  The sections are strategically positioned on the bottom and held in position with screw type anchors and short sections of chain.  Wire rope may be substituted for rope for stringing the modules together into the sections.  As mentioned previously, the holes in the ears of the modules have stainless steel sleeve inserts so they can readily accept the wire rope.

These submerged Wavebraakker™ sections function as artificial reefs and form the nucleus of new barrier islands.  They slow the wave or swell action, facilitate the precipation and accumulation of any suspended sediments dropped out of the seas and in turn combat the erosion effects.

Ideal locations for these artificial reefs would be the beach front areas previously ravaged by storms, hurricanes, etc.

The more common configuration is for mitigation of waves up to two (2) feet high.  The bottom row of modules is perforated and allowed to “free flood”.  This provides protection from the shallow subsea waves and maintains proper orientation of the system.

Other configurations would mitigate deeper sub-surface waves or those higher above surface waves.

In principle, the system is placed at right angles to the oncoming waves.  Intermittent located configuration control plates tend to channel the waves into the cavities or voids between the modules.  Turbulence is generated by the waves impacting and bouncing off the surfaces of the modules.  This turbulent action tends to function much like the action of a noise reduction muffler and by a self cancelling effect reduces the wave forces and the waves.

Unique design of the system allows mating of parallel sections to provide user  with a vertical wall effect or a flat surface configuration.

Other configurations permit floating privacy or security barriers.  The floating system provides physical separation of areas for swimming versus fishermen or boaters.  As upgraded version permits assembly with wire rope to provide a cost effective security barrier against deliberate intrusion by unfriendly boaters..

Advantages of the floating system include:

• Flexibility to re-configure or modify to suit shanges in requirements.
• Acts on the surface and sub-surface waves only.  No interference with marine life, bottom currents or sediment transfer and the associated beach erosion

Module building blocks are rotary molded to a wall thickness of one-fourth (1/4) inch from polyethylene.  Polyehtylene material is extremely duraable in hot or cold environments, has a specific gravity less than water to ensure floating even if damaged and is the color “green” to signify the environmentally friendly nature of the system.  In the spirit of “green” there may be up to 20% of recycled material used in the manufacturing process.  Modules have an expected life of 20-25 years and are warranted for ten (10) years.

Modules are assembled n various configurations by passing synthetic fiber ropes through the holes in the ears.  To ensure longevity of the modules, the holes have Stainless Steel sleeve inserts.  Sleeves may be offered in Inconel and wire rope used in the assembly.

Stainless Steel end plates with welded center “U” bolt connections ensure positive end connections of the sections and connection points for the selected anchoring system.  Intermediate spacer plates maintain the proper cross sectional configuration

Sections may be readily assembled on site using the provided instructions.  They may be assembled on land, launched using an available boat trailer and towed to the selected installation location.

Anchoring line attachments or connections between sections are always made at the “U”  bolt locations on the end pieces of the sections

Anchoring of the floating system may be provided by a variety of techniques:

• For moderate water level variations, simple catenary mooring  lines may be provide to anchors on the windward and leeward sides fo the floating system.  To remove slack in the lines for greater water level variations it may be useful to add additional weights at mid length of the mooring lines.
• At least two (2) companies offer a bungee cord type system that allows stretching of incoming lines with moderate water level increaes and contracting with water level decreases.
• If pilings are available, slip rings or pile guides may be used to allow the system to rise or fall with water level variation.
• If water level variations are extreme, wire rope lines to bottom mounted sheaves can be used and in turn routed to remote located winches.  This system is more common for substantial water level variations such as encountered with recreation facilities located on large flood control reservoirs.

A recent adaption of the system may be used to mitigate the action of ocean front waves or swells.  Sections of the system may be free flooded and weighted to sink to the bottom and anchored  at the bottom with a variety of anchor systems.  The net effect is to reduce the deterimental wave action on the beach front and help to re-build the beach.  Waves tend to be reduced and  entrained particulate matter drops out of suspension into the wavebraakker system.  Over time, the beach will accumulate material much like the barrier islands.

If warning lights or signs are desired, we can provide guidance for installation.

Permit requirements vary and are the responsibility of the installer.  Wavebraakker will provide assistane to buyer or installer in the form of technical documents or answering questions.

To minimize costs to the end user, the floating portion of the system is quoted FOB the molder in Central Texas.  Full instructions are included for on site assembly and installation.

Free site assessment and installation guidance are always available.  Contact Wavebrakker LLC for details.  sales@wavebraakker.com, www.wavebraakker.com

These systems have been the costly Gold Standard for wave protection for many years.  Aside from their considerable cost, they must be built up from the sea floor and become progressively more costly as the water depth increases.  Another disadvantage is their interference with marine life near the bottom surface of the water column.  A further problem is their interference with the bottom currents.

This in turn results in changes in the natural pattern of suspended sediment transport.  Rather than allowing the sediments to deposit relatively uniform along the beach, the disturbed currents will cause scouring or washout in some locations and undesired sediment accumulation in other locations.  This can be readily be seen at beach fronts with protective walls or jettys extending outward from the beachfront.  Currents flowing parallel to the beach will tend to erode or washout on one side of these jettys and deposit on the other side.

For years, a cost effective means to dispose of old tires was to  bundle them in some manner (sometimes with supplemental buoyancy) and install in moored “Rafts”.  These Rafts were commonly used for wave mitigation near marinas and other waterfront property locations.  Over time, these rafts would tend to disintegrate and the buoyancy materials disburse.  Various agencies and others have recognized  this as an environmental hazard and are less inclined to allow new or replacement systems.

The above environmental hazards are now avoided by a new family of floating breakwaters such as Wavebraakker™.  These systems are commonly molded of polyethylene material with a lower specific gravity than water, so even if damaged, they will always float at or near the surface and not sink to the bottom and add to the debris.  As a relatively firm material, it does not waste away to endanger the environment.

In the last several days, I have received a phone call from a prospective client.  They wanted to install or expand on one of the “Gold Standard” Rock and Rubble” systems.  Unfortunately for them, local agencies were concerned about the impacts of the system which is built up from the lake or sea floor.  The disturbance of sea floor marine life and currents was considered unacceptable to the agencies.  They stated that the agencies were reluctant to approve what had been considered the best system available.

We are in negotiations with a prospect who recognized the environmentally safe nature of the Wavebraakker™, the ease of installation or modification and the fact that it would only be located in the area of the surface related wave action.  Nothing is required at the bottom and the cost is substantially less.

For a no cost assessment of your wave problem, send a brief e mail message to sales@wavebraakker.com

This blog is a supplement to the content of the site where will will keep you up to date with new product announcements, and new applications for this very felxible and useful product.

We look forward to receiving your comments on our site and our product, and, especially, to your stories about how you have utilized the product to solve your particular problems. Please send us reports of your applications, along with photographs, and we will post them to this site so that others may benefit from your experience!

Our mailing address is sales@wavebraakker.com. We look forward to hearing from you!