Introduction to Bed, Bank and Shore Protection

The interface of land and water has always played an important role in human activities; settlements are often located at coasts, riverbanks and deltas. When the interface consists of rock, erosion is usually negligible, but finer material can make protection necessary. In a natural situation, the interface moves freely with erosion and sedimentation.

A lot of cases remain where protection is useful. Along canals, rivers, estuaries, bank protection is often needed to withstand the loads caused by flow, waves or ships. Shore protection structures include seawalls, revetments, dikes and groynes. Bed protection is necessary where bottom erosion could endanger structures, like bridge piers, abutments, in-or outlets sluices or any other structures that let water pass through. An excellent reference for graduate students and professionals, "Introduction to Bed, Bank and Shore Protection "applies sound scientific principles and observations to the solution of engineering problems.

Introduction to Bed, Bank and Shore Protection provides students and professional engineers with the understanding and guidance to prevent the erosion of movable beds, banks and shorelines. In a world of rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, these skills are increasingly important to the engineer as well as the wider community. The book starts with the underlying scientific principles behind hydraulics and soil mechanics and applies them to common practical situations for the protection of coastal and river beds, banks and shores. Based on the author's twenty years of experience, this blend of theory and practice provides the reader with useful knowledge that can be applied to a wide range of situations for the protection of the environment.

1. Introduction. 2. Flow - Loads. 3. Flow - Stability. 4. Flow - Erosion. 5. Porous Flow - General. 6. Porous Flow - Filters. 7. Waves - Loads. 8. Waves - Erosion and Stability. 9. Ships - Loads, Stability and Erosion. 10. Dimensions. 11. Protections. 12. Environment. 13. Construction. Appendix A - Material Properties. Appendix B- Examples. List of Symbols. References. Index.

Gerrit Jan Schiereck graduated at Delft University of Technology in 1972 in hydraulic engineering. He started working for Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch public works department, responsible for sea defence, river management, roads etc.) and was involved in many projects (e.g. Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, water management Netherlands delta area, inland navigation). In 1992 he became associate professor in hydraulic engineering at Delft University until 2000 when he returned Rijkswaterstaat.