Author(s): D. Pender; H. Karunarathna
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Abstract: Climate change is altering various environmental parameters that will have extreme consequences on many civil and coastal engineering works. We investigated the structural integrity of the Great South Wall breakwater that protects Dublin Port, Ireland, as a result of sea level rise in the Irish Sea due to global climate change. As there is uncertainty in predicting future sea levels, two simple, linear scenarios (5mm/yr and 10mm/yr) were adopted to determine sea level rise. The 5mm/yr scenario coincides with the UKCIP02 predictions for a high rate of emissions. The 10mm/yr scenario was investigated to examine more rapid rise in sea level that may occur in future. Possible future water levels in front of the breakwater were then predicted by combining the sea level with tides and storm surges of 25, 50 and 100 year return periods. It was found that at predicted water levels with certain return periods, the critical failure mechanism of the breakwater will be wave overtopping, with some segments of the breakwater found to be undermined, due to low crest levels, from the extreme water level alone. It was also found that failure due to sliding and overturning of the breakwater is highly unlikely. Rising sea level is causing the integrity of the Great South Wall to be compromised and may render one of the oldest coastal structures in Ireland useless unless significant counter measures are taken in future to stabilise the seawall against sea level rise.
Year: 2010