The Engineering Studies Program 



The primary task assigned to the Engineering Division is the prepara- 

 tion of a nanual for the design of shore protection structures « Existing 

 published data on this subject is widely scattered, and t here is acute 

 public demand for a single publication covering functional, structural 

 and economic considerations in the selection of the type structure best 

 suited for shore protection in a problem area o 



Many types of shore protection have been constructed vj-ith varjdng 

 degrees of suc3ess throughout the United States « Data concerning fun- 

 ctional effectiveness, cost, economic life, and structural adequacy may 

 be obtained readily by compilation of case histories = Much information 

 concerning stresses introduced by wave action is available from expsrimental 

 investigation in recent years, but little has bean done to compile the 

 results in such form as to be of maximum aid to the designing engineers 



The manual will be presented in five chapters, titled Definitions, 

 Functional Design, Structural Design, Economic Life and Design Analysis, 

 Structure types will include bulkheads, seawalls, groins, jetties, break- 

 waters, and beach fills. Materials will include steel, concrete, stone, 

 and wood, and the varying qualities of sand and other sediments employed 

 in fills. Data will be summarized in tabular or graphic form to simplify 

 design computations, and examples of type problems and solutions will 

 be included. It is planned to publish each chapter as it is completed 

 in the form of technical nsraoranda, and the final volume as a technical 

 report. Addenda or revisions will be issued thereafter as knowledge 

 gained may warranto It is expected that the manual will aid the research 

 program by indicating the relative importance of the many features in 

 which opinion must at present be substituted for facto The initial 

 publication will be prepared on a basis of existing knowledge, and will 

 not be delayed for the purpose of including results of research in 

 progress. 



For this task, the Engineering Division will be augmented temporarily 

 by obtaining the bast qualified personnel available, recruited from 

 within the Corps of Engineers and educational institutions which have 

 specialized in the various phases of the problems In addition to prepara- 

 tion of the Manual, the Engineering Division will perform normal support- 

 ing functions including the design, construction and installation of 

 facilities for laboratory experimentation, the installation and maintenance 

 of wave recording stations, and field studies and surveys as assignedo 

 Studies will be made of the composition, sorting, source and disposition 

 of littoral materials from inclusion in general investigations reports » 



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