On a per square meter basis, this FTB is the most expensive structure 

 documented. Final disposal costs were $4,000. 



Benefits: The operator rated the breakwater as being totally ineffective in 



suppressing waves, meeting design goals, and satisfying his needs. Overall 

 performance was rated ineffective. 



Project Analysis: Of all the projects surveyed, this breakwater is probably 



the greatest failure. Its cost was immense and its operational life was a 

 brief half year. The project's major fault lay in its siting. Being 

 exposed to the diagonal width of Lake Michigan, the FTB experienced very 

 harsh lake conditions. A truly massive anchoring system would have been 

 required to survive the storms and a very wide tire mat needed to 

 significantly affect the waves. The flotation system should also have 

 been improved by using conveyor belting as the coupler instead of heavy 

 chain and by exclusively using polyurethane foam. It is doubted that this 

 foam can substantially become waterlogged, but this uncertainty does point 

 up the need for research on foam flotation systems. Routine maintenance 

 should also have been scheduled, including regularly blowing compressed 

 air into the structure. Finally, because this is a freshwater site with 

 but moderate fouling growth problems, punching holes in the tire bases 

 may have alleviated some of the sand accumulation problem. 



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