Reliable

Excellent Hydraulic stability

• For concept design a Kd value [stability coefficient in the Hudson formula] of 16 [trunk section] and 13 [head section] should be applied;
• The stability coefficient of the Xbloc® is the same for breaking and non-breaking waves ;
• Xbloc® has a safety margin of at least 20% without damage to the armour layer. See also: Hydraulic Performance of Xbloc® Armour Units

Automatic interlocking

• Xbloc® units naturally find a stable position on the slope;
• Self repairing of the Xbloc® armour layer after damage is enhanced by automatic interlocking.
• The Xbloc® unit is simple to place as no specific orientation of the individual units is required;

Low wave overtopping

• The highly porous armour layer minimises wave overtopping. For more information see: CLASH test results: Overtopping performance of different armour units for rubble mound breakwaters
• For guidance on overtopping coefficients see: Overtopping and Wave reflection
  

Low wave reflection

• The highly porous armour layer minimises wave reflection:
  Wave reflection and wave run-up at rubble mound breakwaters 
  Wave reflection from coastal structures by B. Zanuttigh and J.W. van der Meer
• For guidance on reflection coefficients see: Overtopping and Wave reflection

Outstanding structural integrity

The structural integrity of the Xbloc® was evaluated by using:

• Prototype drop tests [The Netherlands, Georgia and Ireland]
• Finite element calculations

All studies and project experience prove the Xbloc® to be a structurally strong unit able to cope with the loads that can be expected during its lifetime from manufacture to operation. Ordinary concrete C25/30 can be used for the production of Xbloc armour units. Read more:
Placement and structural strength of Xbloc® and other single layer armour units.
Structural Integrity of the Xbloc® breakwater armour units prototype and numerical droptests.