This note presents the physical model tests carried out on the new breakwater in the fishing harbour of Mirbat (Sultanate of Oman), designed for a cyclonic wave Hs = 6.0 m and for a 200 year return period wind wave Hs = 3.2 m. Based on this experience, the behaviour of a rubble mound breakwater subject to wind waves that are much smaller than the design cyclonic wave height is discussed. We shall define the wave climate in this case as “cyclonic”. The initial interlocking (during construction) that does not “grow” during the lifetime as usual and the expected cyclonic wave is likely to produce larger damage than predicted by the design formulae, that on the contrary rely on such interlocking. Under oblique waves, the importance of unit interlocking is even greater due to the sub-horizontal loads and therefore the case of cyclonic wave climates requires a larger safety margin.
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