UNREAL XBLOCPLUS - USE OF A MULTI-MODEL APPROACH TO ASSESS SEISMIC AND POST-SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF A SINGLE LAYER ARMOUR REVETMENT

The use of single layer, pattern placed concrete armour units for coastal edge protection in place of rock is becoming increasingly common. Revetments constructed from these units can provide benefits of a reduced footprint, reduced material usage and transport costs as suitable rock becomes increasingly difficult to source, and reduced construction timeframes (Bakker et al., 2023). These units are, however, highly reliant on interlocking with surrounding units. While performance of these revetments has been the subject of rigorous testing under wave loading, they have not, to the authors’ knowledge, been investigated under seismic loading. Damage under this forcing could be initiated by a range of failure modes including direct shaking leading to individual blocks being displaced and losing interlock, sliding failure with rows of blocks riding over those below and lateral displacement and deformation of the ground profile beneath the revetment. Following such an event, a damaged revetment may remain vulnerable to the impacts of storm waves until repaired.