Physical Model Testing of the Hydraulic Stability of Single-layer Armour Units

Demand for the physical modelling of single layer concrete armour units has increased in recent years. The models are getting more complex, and engineers are expecting increasingly detailed information from them. Model armour layer responses are usually described using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including visual assessment, not all of which can be covered by generic guidelines. This paper shares recent experiences of Artelia and HR Wallingford in testing single layer models, and discusses way of improving the assessment of the test data, including methods of tracking armour unit displacement. Qualitative assessment remains an invaluable part of the testing regime for single layer units.