6 Reasons to Implement the ACCROBERM? Toe System in your Breakwater

The #ACCROPODE? artificial armour units are renowned worldwide as a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solution for the construction of breakwaters and revetments. The overall stability of these structures is highly dependent on the stability of their toe, which adequate execution is usually complex and time-consuming.

It is for this reason that CLI has developed the #ACCROBERM? unit.

The ACCROBERM? is a novel toe block conceived taking into account the premise to improve the structure stability and to simplify the construction process. The ACCROBERM? block offers a number of practical benefits when compared to more traditional toe solutions, such as:

1.??????It stabilises the toe in wave breaking zones

The excellent stability of the ACCROBERM? unit stems from its round frustoconical shape, its very low centre of gravity and its vents. Moreover, if necessary, the units can be fixed to the ground using anchor rods, thereby maintaining stability even under very a severe wave attack.

2.??????Eliminates the need for a toe trench

These units replace the first row of ACCROPODE? II units, and are placed directly on the seabed rock or above an anti-scouring layer. This eliminates the need to excavate a trench on hard seabed, usually a time-consuming task which requires specific equipment.

3.??????Eliminates the rockfill toe mound

The ACCROBERM? units remove the need for the double layer of rockfill that serves as a toe berm in a standard toe mound. Hence, it substantially reduces the economic cost and environmental footprint of the structure.

4.??????It is an economical solution, easy to implement

The weight of the unit is the same as that of the ACCROPODE?II unit that it supports. Moreover, it simplifies the placing methodology of the first ACCROPODE? II layer which can be done in a systematic manner with similar orientation of the units.

5.??????Reduces the maritime footprint of the structure:

Thanks to the elimination of the rockfill toe mound and a reduction of the required length of anti-scouring layer.

6.??????Blends with the environment

The ACCROBERM? unit ensures seamless integration into an environmentally sensitive site by offering eco-design possibilities to restore ecosystems or create new ones. Micro-texturing and special concrete mixes can be easily applied to these units in order to stimulate bio-colonisation.

The structural and hydraulic stability of the ACCROBERM? unit has been verified through numerical calculations as well as 2D and 3D physical scale model tests. Currently, CLI is performing systematic tests in collaboration with BUILDERS école d'ingénieurs (formerly ESITC Caen) to deepen the knowledge on the limits of this technology. Besides, the ACCROBERM? technology has already been successfully applied to some projects around the world (e.g., ACCROBERM? I unit in the UAE and ACCROBERM? II unit in France).

For more info do not hesitate to contact us and to visit our website https://www.concretelayer.com/en