Xbloc® for Scientists
Developing the Xbloc® in the past led to extensive research within DMC on single layer armour unit behaviour under different circumstances and with different design concepts. Research has also generated new design options as Eco Xbloc and Xbase®.
Since July 2008 DMC also executes research in its own 2D wave flume.
Other institutes which have been performing research on Xbloc® are:
- Delft Hydraulics
- TU Delft, the Netherlands,
- DHI, Denmark
- University of Edingburgh, Scotland
- CSIR, South Africa
- Queens University, Northern Ireland
- Water Research laboratory University of New South Wales, Australia
- Aalborg University, Denmark.
Research topics and interesting links
Hydraulic Stability
- Stability of armour units on slope
Hydraulic Performance of Xbloc® Armour Units - Overtopping
CLASH test results: Overtopping performance of different armour units for rubble mound breakwaters - Wave reflection
Wave reflection from coastal structures by B. Zanuttigh and J.W. van der Meer
Structural Integrity
- Analysing the robustness of the Xbloc®
Structural Integrity of the Xbloc® breakwater armour units prototype and numerical droptests
Placement and structural strength of Xbloc® and other single layer armour units
Toe Stability
- Model tests of Xbase® Toe solution
Xbase® development and application of a special concrete toe unit for extreme conditions
Placement Research
- Research on constructability and theoretical placement grid
- Logistic studies of the fabrication, storage and placement of units.
Ecological Research
- Monitoring growth of vegetation at IJmuiden on Eco Xbloc
