FIGURE 3. PIPE-TIRE BREAKWATER 

 (NOT TO SCALE) 



T = 2 to 4 sec). However, the structures and anchor systems were designed to 

 withstand the maximum wave predicted for the West Point site (H = 6 ft, T 

 = 5 sec). 

 Pipe-Tire Breakwater Construction 



The tire breakwater was assembled one bay at a time on a construction 

 platform located adjacent to a waterway. As each bay was completed, the break- 

 water was moved (one bay at a time) into the waterway (Photograph 1). Con- 

 struction of the breakwater closely followed the sequence described by Harms. 

 The tires were brought to the assembly platform (Photograph 2) where they were 

 arranged as shown in Figure 4. The matrix of 1,650 truck tires depended on the 

 loops of 5-1/2-in. -wide, 3-ply conveyor belting for structural integrity. A 

 special tool fabricated from a car jack was used to tension the belting (Photo- 

 graph 3) before the loop ends were joined together with five 1/2-in. -diameter 

 by 2- in. -long nylon bolts. The ends of the bolt thread were melted with a 

 welding torch to prevent the nuts from working off the bolts. After 12 rows 

 of 11 tires had been fastened together, additional tires were forced into the 

 open spaces ("free" tire spaces). The breakwater was then ready to have a 



112 



