Design of Breakwaters using Knowledge-Based Techniques

Abstract

The design process for a breakwater is unlike that of almost all other civil engineering structures. Whereas such major structures as bridges and skyscrapers lend themselves easily to precise mathematical analysis the same cannot be applied to breakwaters. What does exist is a multitude of empirical formulae and heuristic methods on which the engineer must base his design. Very often the engineer is not aware of methods and techniques that could be of help in the design. This lack of knowledge can be addressed by developing an expert system that can store much of the information presently scattered in numerous design manuals and research papers. At the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Laboratory (HMRL) in Ireland such a system is being developed. It is envisaged that the completed system will act as a prototype for use in the design office of the future.