CONSTRUCTING AND FIELD TESTING A HIGH PERFORMANCE 

 PIPE-TIRE FLOATING BREAKWATER* 



Robert E. Pierce 



Abstract 



A pipe-tire floating breakwater has been assembled and installed in Presque 

 Isle Bay, Erie, Pennsylvania, using mostly standard marina facilities and 

 equipment. Specially developed techniques employed in the construction of the 

 modular-type subassemblies eased the difficulties of launching, towing, and 

 final on-site assembly. 



Three unique tire-placement configurations were employed in the 

 construction of the floating breakwater system. Two designs used truck tires 

 exclusively, while the third utilized a combination of truck and car tires. 

 Field observations and measurements indicated that the all-truck-tire designs 

 possess superior wave attenuation characteristics. 



Tire-clad tubes integrated into the tire breakwater design provided for 

 a more secure mooring attachment and improved the structural rigidity in the 

 direction of wave advance. When properly foamed, each tire-cladded tube 

 supported the weight of several persons and served as a platform for on-site 

 assembly and maintenance. Small work boats were routinely driven onto the 

 assembly alongside a tire-cladded tube for the purpose of loading or unloading 

 tools and/or personnel. 



Other than routine inspection of the assembly and service of the marker 

 lighting system, the breakwater has required no maintenance since its July 1982 

 installation. 



Introduction 



All-tire floating breakwater assemblies have been used for some time. One 

 of the more enduring and important of the all-tire floating breakwater designs 

 is the Goodyear modular configuration. Two major installations of this type 

 occurred in recent years, one located at the Burlington Yacht Club, Burlington, 

 Ontario, and the other located in the harbor behind the stone breakwall at the 

 Port of Lorain, Lorain, Ohio. 



*This research was sponsored by New York Sea Grant Institute under a grant from 

 the Office of Sea Grant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

 U.S. Department of Commerce. The U.S. Government (including Sea Grant Office) 

 is authorized to produce and distribute reprints for governmental purposes 

 notwithstanding any copyright notation appearing hereon. 



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