Dynamic structural response of Core-Loc

The Core-Loc, invented and developed at the Waterways Experiment Station (WES), is a new-generation, optimized breakwater concrete armor unit for protecting shoreline and navigation structures.Because of the very difficult construction, in-service, and repair conditions associated with high-energy wave environments, a need was identified to characterize the dynamic impact structural response of the Core-Loc. The most common method of accomplishing this goal is the drop test. Drop tests are used to evaluate the structural performance of a given armor unit when it is exposed to impact loads. During the test, the armor unit is dropped from incrementally increasing heights onto a rigid concrete base until the unit breaks apart. In this case, the drop heights were increased in 25-mm increments until the units totally failed.