CONTENTS 



Page 



CONVERSION FACTORS, U.S. CUSTOMARY TO METRIC (SI) 8 



I INTRODUCTION 9 



1. Background 9 



2. Nature and Purpose of Study 9 



II BAG PROPERTY TESTS 10 



1. Exposure Test 10 



2. Drop Test 10 



3. Dry and Submerged Weight Test 12 



III BAG BREAKWATER TESTS 17 



1. General 17 



2. Wave Tank Preparation 20 



3. Breakwater Construction 20 



4. Wave Conditions 27 



5. Surveys 28 



6. Test Descriptions . . . 28 



7. Test I 29 



8. Test II 34 



9. Test III 34 



10. Test IV 49 



IV ANALYSIS 55 



1. Bag Problems 55 



2. Structure Stability 55 



3. Wave Transmission 64 



V GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 66 



1. Sandbag Dimensions and Weights 66 



2. Sandbag Problems and Improvements 66 



VI CONCLUSIONS 68 



1. Sandbag Performance 68 



2. Breakwater Performance 69 



3. Design Considerations. . ; 69 



BIBLIOGRAPHY • 71 



APPENDIX EXAMPLES OF NYLON SANDBAG SHORE PROTECTION STRUCTURES: 



IN THE UNITED STATES 72 



TABLES 



1 Nylon bag and material specifications 13 



2 Changes in the weight of submerged sandbags with time 14 



