Bulkheads

Synonyms

Retaining walls; Revetments; Seawalls

Definition

Vertical structures or partitions that hold or prevent soil from sliding seaward and reduce land erosion. A secondary purpose of these structures is to provide protection to the upland from light-to-moderate wave action (CHL, 2013).

Bulkheads protect bluffs and cliffs by retaining soil from eroding at the toe, thereby increasing stability. Bulkheads may cause increased erosion immediately seaward and adjacent to the structure (flanking) due to wave reflection, and they offer no protection to adjacent areas. Bulkheads may be cantilevers, anchored (e.g., sheet pile), or gravity structures (e.g., stone) (USACE, 1981; USACE, 1984; USACE, 2002).

Cantilever bulkheads require adequate ground embedment to retain soil and prevent overturning and are typically used where lower structures are needed. Scour at the toe of the structure can effectively reduce the embedment length and cause failure (USACE, 1981).

Anchored or tie-backed...