Riprap
Riprap — also known as rip rap, rubble, shot rock or rock armour — is rock or other material used to armor shorelines, streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour, water or ice erosion.
It is made from a variety of rock types, commonly granite or limestone, and occasionally concrete rubble from building and paving demolition. It is used to protect coastlines and structures from erosion by the sea, rivers, or streams. It can be used on any waterways or water containment where there is potential for water erosion.
Protection mechanism
Riprap works by absorbing and deflecting the impact of a wave before the wave reaches the defended structure. The size and mass of the riprap material absorbs the impact energy of waves, while the gaps between the rocks trap and slow the flow of water, lessening its ability to erode soil or structures. The mass of riprap also provides protection against impact damage by ice or debris, which is particularly desirable for bridge supports and pilings.
It is frequently used to protect the base of old Edwardian and Victorian sea walls, which being vertical are often undermined. The riprap absorbs the impact of the waves as they shoot up the wall and then fall back down.
In the Western United States, riprap can also mean a cross between cobblestones and stairs.
See also
- Erosion control
- Riparian zone
- Revetment
- Accropode
- Baer's law
- Construction aggregate
- Dimension stone
- Limestone
- Bridge scour
- Hudson's equation
References
- Ciria-CUR (2007) - Rock Manual - The use of rock in hydraulic engineering.
- N.W.H. Allsop (2002) - Breakwaters, coastal structures and coastlines.
- US Dept. of Transportation (2004) - Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
External links
- Design example, USACE
- Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources riprap guide
- US Bureau of Reclamation publication on riprap for dam overtopping
- Minnesota DNR
- USGS Minerals Yearbook: Stone, Crushed
