his article is recommended by the editorial team.

This article describes the features, possible effects and different types of groynes, which extend from the shore into the
sea. Groynes are examples of hard shoreline protection structures which aim to protect the shoreline from coastal erosion. See
also the article on groynes as shore protection.

Contents

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1 Introduction

2 Effects of groynes on the shoreline

3 Features of groynes

4 Types of groynes

o 4.1 Wooden groynes

o 4.2 Steel groynes

o 4.3 Groynes of concrete elements

o 4.4 Rubble-mound and sand-filled bag groynes

5 See also

6 References

Introduction

A groyne is an active structure extending from shore into sea, most often perpendicularly or slightly obliquely to the shoreline.
Adequate supply of sediment and existence of satisfactorily intensive longshore sediment transport are the sine qua non
conditions of groynes efficiency.

Catching and trapping of a part of sediment moving in a surf zone (mainly in a longshore direction), as well as reduction of the
sediment amount transported seawards, are the principle functions of the groyne.

As revealed by experiments, during weak and moderate wave conditions, the groynes partly dissipate energy of water motion
and lead to sand accumulation in the vicinity of a shore, thus causing its accretion. Under storm waves, mainly approaching the
shore perpendicularly, the role of the groynes decreases and a beach is partly washed out.

Groynes are frequently used. However, applied as a self-contained shore protection measure it is a very dubious solution. This
is because of unfavourable side effects which they can cause locally. Satisfactory supply of sand and existence of longshore
sediment transport are fundamental conditions for efficiency of groynes. The groynes role distinctly increases if they are
applied together with other (soft) shore protection measures, like artificial beach nourishment or shore nourishment.
Effects of groynes on the shoreline

Intensity and character of groynes influence on shore behaviour depend on sea water level, parameters of waves, currents and
sediment supply in the surf zone, as well as a shape and inclination of the cross-shore profile.

Figure 1: Scheme of interaction of groynes, waves, currents and shore

Protection of the shore by use of one groyne only is most often inefficient. Therefore, shore protection by groynes is designed
as a group comprising from a few to tens of individual structures. A scheme of a system of interacting groynes is given in
Figure 1. A single groyne, besides its positive influence on the shore, causes numerous side effects, mainly in the form of
coastal erosion on the lee side of the structure. In the case of a group of groynes, the above effect appears on the lee side of
the whole system. The erosion is also observed in direct vicinity of the structures, particularly when waves approaching the
shore perpendicularly predominate. Between the groynes, huge mass of water is accumulated which in turn leads to
appearance of compensating flows along the structures, causing local erosion of the seabed. With respect to the surf zone
width, during severe storms the groynes are short structures, with frequently occurring erosion around them, while under
weak wave conditions they become long, thus helping in sand accumulation and widening of the beach. Loss of contact
between a groyne and the shore in an unfavourable effect. In such a case, longshore flows are generated between the
shoreline and the groyne root. These flows are the reason for washing out of the beach.

Features of groynes
Figure 2 Types and shapes of groynes

Appropriate choice of shapes, dimensions and location of groynes is crucial for effectiveness of shore protection. Groynes
length is usually related to mean width of the surf zone and on the other hand to their longshore spacing. An active length of
the groyne basically increases together with the growth of wave-to-shoreline angle. While designing groynes, one should
remember that they should not trap the whole longshore sediment flux. Numerous investigations and observations suggest
that within optimal solutions the groynes spread seawards not further than to 40-50% of the storm surf zone width.
Effectiveness of the groynes depends also on their permeability. The groynes which are either structurally permeable or
submerged (permanently or during high water levels) allow more sediment to pass alongshore through them, in comparison to
impermeable or high groynes[1].

Most often used, pile groynes are usually permeable structures which does not affect their efficiency. The groynes height
influences the amount of longshore sediment transport trapped by the groynes. The same groyne can act either as emerged or
submerged structure (Figure 2a), depending on water level which is subject to changes due to astronomical tides (if they
exist), as well as storm surges. Generally, the groynes are designed to stick out about h s=0.5-1.0 m above the beach and the
mean sea level (MSL). Too high groynes cause wave reflection, resulting in local scours. Considering the shape in plan view,
the groynes can be straight, bent or curved, as well as L-shaped, T-shaped or Y-shaped. The most popular shapes and types of
groynes are schematically shown in Figure 2.

Types of groynes

In structural terms, one can distinguish between wooden groynes, sheet-pile groynes, concrete groynes and rubble-mound
groynes made of concrete blocks or stones, as well as sand-filled bag groynes.

Wooden groynes

Figure 3 Exemplary two-row pile groyne and adjacent shoreline position, Hel Peninsula (the Baltic Sea)

The wooden groynes are most often one- or two-row palisade structures. Effects of influence of the T-shape wooden pile
groyne on the shore (local erosion on the lee side and accumulation on the other) are illustrated in Figure 3. One-row wooden
groynes are most often partly permeable structures. This results in reduced erosive lee-side effects and prevents from
appearance of semi-closed nearshore water circulations. The wooden palisade groynes are cheap but on the other hand they
have low durability.

Steel groynes

Steel groynes are most often constructed of vertical sheet piling, single or double, of various profiles, located perpendicularly to
the shoreline. They are impermeable structures. The experiments have shown that the groynes made of single sheet pile walls
are not durable. This is due to corrosion of the material and influence (friction) of the moving sand. Besides, ice load is very
harmful, causing instability and failure of the steel sheet pilings. Mixed massive structures, constituted of steel and concrete,
are much more stable and durable.
Groynes of concrete elements

Figure 4 Concrete groyne, Ukraine (the Black Sea)

Groynes built of concrete elements in the form of prefabricated boxes or other reinforced concrete items belong to the most
stable and long-lasting coastal structures. Because of considerable unit weight, the elements composing a groyne of this kind
require the existence of suitable soil conditions and the appropriate foundation. An example of the groyne constructed of the
reinforced concrete elements is depicted in Figure 4.

Rubble-mound and sand-filled bag groynes

Rubble-mound groynes belong to frequently applied coastal protective structures. They are built as either loose mounds of
stones or mounds of various armour units, e.g. tetrapods. These groynes are often mixed structures, strengthened inside by
the sheet piling. They are relatively massive, durable and impermeable. The rubble-mound groynes are advantageous with
respect to the steel, concrete and wooden ones, as they better dissipate energy of waves and currents.

The sand-filled bag groynes as a protection measure should rather be considered as a short-term solution. The bags in a
stacked bag groynes can either be sand- or ground-filled. Some additional protection measures are necessary, especially at the
groyne head. A special filter cloth should be used under the bags to reduce settlement in soft bottom. Construction of this type
of groynes requires larger bags (heavier than 50 kg), even though they are more difficult to handle and require filling on the
spot.

Exemplary cross-sections of the rubble-mound and sand-filled bag groynes are shown in Figure 2.