The object of this work is to explore the influence superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces exert in laminar jet impingement and when they are combined with riblets in turbulent channel flow. A SH surface generates an apparent slip due to the combination of micropatterning and chemical hydrophobicity. Because of surface tension, water does not enter the cavities between the features, increasing the contact angle of a water droplet on the surface and reducing the liquid-solid contact area. An analysis based on the integral momentum approach of Karman and Pohlhausen is presented that predicts jet impingement behavior on SH surfaces. The model is first applied to the scenario where the slip at the surface is isotropic and a downstream depth is imposed such that a circular hydraulic jump occurs. The model predicts the thin film parameters downstream of the jet and the radial location of the hydraulic jump. An increase in the hydraulic jump radius occurs as slip increases, momentum of the jet increases, or the downstream depth decreases. Modifications to the model are made for the scenario where the slip at the surface varies azimuthally, as would be the case for a surface patterned with microribs. The average behavior is similar, although now an elliptically shaped jump forms with the major axis aligned parallel to the rib/cavity structures. The ellipse eccentricity increases as the slip increases, the jet momentum increases, or the downstream depth decreases. Where there is no downstream depth imposed on SH surfaces, the thin film breaks up into droplets instead of forming a hydraulic jump. Further changes are made to the model to incorporate this behavior for isotropic and anisotropic surfaces resulting in circular and elliptically shaped breakups respectively. This work also explores SH surfaces with riblets in turbulent channel flow. Pressure drop measurements across surfaces exhibiting superhydrophobicity, riblets, and surfaces with both drag reducing mechanisms are presented. The SH surface reduces drag because the effective surface area is reduced and riblets are able to reduce drag by dampening the spanwise turbulence. Photolithography was used to fabricate all surface types. An aluminum channel with a control and a test section was used for testing. Pressure transducers recorded the pressure drop across smooth silicon wafers and patterned test surfaces simultaneously allowing for computation of the friction factors.

No description available.

The three-dimensional (3D) baroclinic response of Cayuga Lake to surface wind forcing was investigated using the fully nonhydrostatic MITgcm. The model was validated against observed temperature data using a hydrostatic 450 m (horizontal) grid and both qualitative and quantitative methods. The model correctly reproduces the basin-scale dynamics (e.g., seiche with horizontal mode-one period T1 = 80 h) with a basin-wide root-mean-square error of 1.9 C. Nonlinear internal surges were visualized to evolve due to (i) a wind-induced locally downwelled thermocline (wind duration Twind < T1/4), (ii) a basin-scale wind-induced upwelled thermocline (Twind > T1/4), (iii) internal hydraulic jumps (IHJs). Results from a 113 m grid and field observations were used to characterize the basin-scale internal wave field according to composite Froude number (G2), Wedderburn number (WN), and Lake number (LN). The typical Cayuga Lake response is a surge when ~ 1 < WN (LN) < ~ 2-12 and a surge with emergent nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) when WN or LN < ~ 2, in agreement with published laboratory studies. An observed shock front was simulated to be an IHJ, occurring at mid-basin during strong winds when WN < 0.8. This is the first simulation of a mid-basin seiche-induced IHJ due to super critical conditions (G2 > 1) in a lake. The topographic-induced IHJs were also shown to form when the surges interact with a sill-contraction topographic feature. Both high-resolution hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic models were used to investigate the evolution, propagation and shoaling of NLIWs at medium lake-scale. A nonhydrostatic 22 m grid with lepticity λ ~ 1 ensures minimal numerical relative to physical dispersion, qualitatively reproducing observed dispersive NLIWs using ~ 2.3E+8 grid cells. Solitary waves evolve with almost unchanged wavelengths upon grid refinement from 40 m (λ ~ 2) to 22 m; suggesting model convergence to the correct solution. Corresponding hydrostatic grids were shown to produce a packet of narrower spurious solitary-like motions with different wavelengths, representing a balance between nonlinear steepening and numerical dispersion. Local gyre-like patterns and secondary transverse NLIW packets were visualized to result from wave-topography interaction, suggesting that NLIW propagation in long narrow lakes, where the bottom topography has irregularities is fundamentally 3D. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-14 12:45:21.727

Les systèmes sédimentaires turbiditiques présentent un double intérêt académique et industriel puisqu’ils constituent à la fois des archives des conditions environnementales et des réservoirs pétroliers potentiels. Parmi les nombreux paramètres contrôlant l’organisation sédimentaire de ces systèmes l’inclinaison de la pente continentale apparait être un paramètre majeur. L’analyse de l’influence de l’inclinaison de la pente et de ces variations sur l’hydrodynamique des écoulements sédimentaires et ainsi sur l’architecture des systèmes turbiditiques revêt un caractère crucial tant du point de vue académique que pétrolier. Ce travail s’appuie sur l’analyse haute résolution de données acoustiques (bathymétrie, imagerie multifaisceaux, sismique THR, sonar latéral) acquises sur la marge abrupte du Golfe de Gênes (Malisar, Fables, Prisme, Gelo) et de l’analyse d’un bloc de sismique 3D sur la marge abrupte Ivoirienne. Les accumulations turbiditiques des deux sites témoignent de processus de ségrégation des particules avec le piégeage des particules les plus grossières dans des structures en plunge pools, cyclic steps ou slope break deposits. L’étude fine de ces corps liés au ressaut hydraulique apporte ici un éclairage inédit sur la continuité des corps sableux à la transition canyon/lobe et permet ainsi de proposer un nouveau scénario de modèle réservoir. De plus l’analyse de ces deux zones d’études met en évidence l’impact direct de l’activité tectonique sur l’architecture des accumulations turbiditiques par la mise en place et le maintien d’une zone de rupture de pente où le phénomène de ressaut hydraulique peut perdurer au cours du temps. / Turbidite systems present both academic and industrial interests since they are archives of environmental conditions and potential oil reservoirs. Among many parameters controlling the sedimentary organization, the continental slope inclination appears to be a major parameter. The analysis of slope inclination’s and these variations on the hydrodynamic of sedimentary flows and thus on turbidite systems architecture is a crucial character for both academic and industrial interests. The Pliocene-Quaternary turbidite systems of the Gulf of Genoa and upper margin of the Ivorian Cretaceous develop on margins with steep slope profiles controlled by tectonic processes and are suitable and complementary items for the Study of turbidite sedimentation in context of abrupt margin. This work is based on the high-resolution analysis of acoustic data (bathymetry, multibeam imaging, seismic THR, sidescan sonar) acquired on the steep margin of the Gulf of Genova (Malisar, Fables, Prism, Gelo) and the analysis of a 3D seismic block on the Ivorian steep margin. Turbidite accumulations of two sites demonstrate particle segregation processes with trapping coarser particles into specific structures such as plunge pools and cyclic steps. The detailed study of these bodies related to hydraulic jump sheds a new light on the continuity of sand bodies in the transition canyon / lobe and allows the designing of a new reservoir model scenario. Further analysis of these two areas of study shows the direct impact of tectonic activity on the architecture of turbidite accumulations by establishing and maintaining a nick area where the phenomenon of hydraulic jump can be maintained over time.

Identifying Low-head dams (LHD) and creating an inventory become a priority as fatalities continue to occur at these structures. Because obstruction inventories do not specifically identify LHDs, and they are not assigned a hazard classification, there is not an official inventory of LHD. However, there is a multi-agency taskforce that is creating an inventory of LHD. All efforts have been performed by manually identifying LHD on Google Earth Pro (GE Pro). The purpose of this paper is to assess whether a machine learning approach can accelerate the national inventory. We used a machine learning approach to implement a high-resolution remote sensing data and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture. The model achieved 76% accuracy on identifying LHD (true positive) and 95% accuracy identifying NLHD (true negative) on the validation set. We deployed the trained model into the National Hydrologic Geospatial Fabric (Hydrofabric) flowlines on the Provo River watershed. The results showed a high number of false positives and low accuracy in identifying LHD due to the mismatch between Hydrofabric flowlines and actual waterways. We recommend improving the accuracy of the Hydrofabric waterway tracing algorithms to increase the percentage of correctly classified LHD.

On dérive un nouveau modèle d’écoulements cisaillés et turbulents d’eau peu profonde. Les écarts de la vitesse horizontale par rapport à sa valeur moyenne sont pris en compte par une nouvelle variable appelée enstrophie, liée à la vorticité et à l’énergie turbulente. Le modèle comporte trois équations qui sont les bilans de masse, de quantité de mouvement et d’énergie. Le modèle est hyperbolique et peut être écrit sous forme conservative. L’énergie turbulente, dont l’intensité peut être importante, est produite par les ondes de choc qui apparaissent naturellement dans le modèle. Les écoulements rapidement variés étudiés sont caractérisés par l’existence d’une structure turbulente appelée rouleau dans laquelle la dissipation d’énergie turbulente joue un rôle majeur. Cette dissipation, qui détermine notamment le profil de profondeur, est modélisée par l’introduction d’un terme nouveau dans le bilan d’énergie. Le modèle comporte deux paramètres. L’un gouverne la dissipation de l’énergie turbulente du rouleau. L’autre paramètre, l’enstrophie de paroi, liée au cisaillement sur le fond, peut être considéré comme constant dans la partie rapidement variée d’un écoulement, sur laquelle il exerce une influence assez faible. Ce modèle a été appliqué avec succès aux vagues des trains de rouleaux et au ressaut hydraulique classique. Le profil de la surface libre est en très bon accord avec les résultats expérimentaux. L’étude numérique en régime non stationnaire permet notamment de prédire le régime oscillatoire du ressaut hydraulique. La fréquence d’oscillations correspondante est en accord satisfaisant avec les mesures expérimentales de la littérature. / We derive a new model of turbulent shear shallow water flows. The deviation of the horizontal velocity from its average value is taken into account by a new variable called enstrophy, which is related to the vorticity and to the turbulent energy. The model consists of three equations which are the balances of mass, momentum and energy. The model is hyperbolic and can be written in conservative form. The turbulent energy, which can be of high intensity, is produced in shock waves which appear naturally in the model. The rapidly varied flows we studied are characterized by the presence of a turbulent structure called roller in which the turbulent energy dissipation plays a major part. This dissipation, which determines, in particular, the depth profile, is modelled by the introduction of a new term in the energy balance equation. The model contains two parameters. The first one governs the dissipation of the turbulent energy of the roller. The second one, the wall enstrophy, related to the shearing at the bottom, can be considered as constant in the rapidly varied part of the flow on which it does not exert an important influence. This model was successfully applied to roll waves and to the classical hydraulic jump. The free surface profile was found in very good agreement with the experimental results. The numerical study in the non-stationary case can notably predict the oscillations of the hydraulic jump. The corresponding oscillation frequency is in good agreement with the experimental measures found in the literature.

Embora o ressalto hidráulico seja um assunto já muito estudado, é igualmente um assunto de grande interesse, acerca do qual ainda existem diversos questionamentos a respeito de suas características. Por essa razão, buscou-se neste projeto o desenvolvimento de estudos experimentais e a proposição de um modelo teórico. Os trabalhos experimentais foram desenvolvidos com o uso de um sensor ultrassônico, para aquisição de dados instantâneos da superfície livre, sendo estudados ressaltos com número de Froude na seção supercrítica entre 1,94 e 5,26 e duas condições de controle a montante: comporta plana e vertedor de soleira espessa. As seguintes variáveis foram avaliadas a partir dos experimentos: comprimento do rolo, comprimento do ressalto, intensidade turbulenta vertical, perfil da superfície livre e frequências dos sinais de saída do sensor. Os perfis da superfície livre, considerando-se separadamente os dados de comporta e vertedor, foram ajustados a partir de uma equação heurística e as frequências características foram comparadas com os comprimentos característicos do ressalto. Além disso, foram efetuados registros fotográficos do escoamento com uma câmera de alta velocidade e luz laser para uma condição experimental (com baixo número de Froude supercrítico), sendo a superfície livre detectada por meio de técnicas usuais de processamento de imagens. O perfil médio obtido com o sensor foi semelhante ao perfil das imagens. Em relação ao modelo teórico proposto, este foi desenvolvido a partir de dois volumes de controle (VC) fixos, sendo obtidas duas equações para a relação entre o comprimento do rolo e a altura supercrítica. Verificou-se uma variação de quarenta porcento entre os valores previstos com as equações e os dados experimentais, em função da própria divergência dos dados de comprimento do rolo indicados pelos autores. De forma geral, o estudo mostrou-se relevante por possibilitar a avaliação da estrutura externa do ressalto hidráulico por meio de diferentes abordagens metodológicas. / Althought hydraulic jump has been studied for a long time, it is equally a theme of large interest, which many aspects related to its characteristics remain unanswered. Therefore, the development of experimental studies and the proposal of a theoretical model was sought in this project. The experimental works were carried out using an ultrassonic sensor, in order to acquire instantaneous data of the free surface, being studied hydraulic jumps with inflow Froude number ranging between 1.94 and 5.26 and two upstream control structures: plane gate and broad-crested weir. The following variables were evaluated: roller length, hydraulic jump length, vertical turbulent intensity, free surface profile, frequencies of the output data sensor. The free surface profiles, considering individually the plane gate and broad-crested weir, were adjested using a heuristic equation and characteristic frequencies were compared to the characteristic jump lengths. Furthermore, the flow was photographed using a high speed camera and a laser light for one experimental condition (for low inflow Froude number). The free surface in images were detected trought usual image processing techniques. The mean profile obtained from the sensor was very similar to the images profile. Regarding the theoretical model, it was developed considering two fixed control volumes (VC), obtaining two equations for the roller length and supercritical depth ratio. A variation of forty percent was observed between the predicted and experimental values, due to the own divergence among the roller length data suggested by the authors. Overall, the study was relevant, because it allowed the evaluation of the external structure of hydraulic jumps by means of different methodological approaches.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental sobre o efeito da ação das ondas nas margens de rios que estão a jusante de estruturas hidráulicas. O trabalho foi realizado em três etapas, sendo a primeira realizada em modelo físico reduzido parcial de um vertedouro em degraus com canal a jusante, instalado no Pavilhão de Obras Hidráulicas (IPH/UFRGS). Nesta primeira etapa, diferentes condições de vazão e submergência foram consideradas, com o objetivo de avaliar as características das ondas de superfície, geradas a jusante de um dissipador de energia por ressalto hidráulico. As características avaliadas foram: altura, período, comprimento e celeridade das ondas. Os resultados dessa primeira etapa indicaram que as características principais das ondas, altura e período, estão mais relacionadas com a vazão escoada do que com a submergência do ressalto hidráulico. Além disso, através da comparação entre os dados estimados e observados da celeridade da onda, foi possível identificar que o período significativo da onda representa melhor a caracterização de uma onda que o período de pico, para ondas geradas a jusante de ressalto hidráulico. Na segunda etapa dos ensaios, as características das ondas obtidas na primeira etapa do estudo foram reproduzidas em um canal de ondas bidimensional, instalado no Pavilhão Fluvial (IPH/UFRGS). Desta forma, foi possível avaliar o efeito da ação das ondas sobre taludes com diferentes inclinações e granulometrias de material de proteção. Os resultados desta etapa demonstraram que o talude construído com material de proteção, denominado de brita grande (G) e com inclinação 1(V):3(H), foi o que apresentou maior estabilidade após a ação das ondas, mesmo sendo este um material de diâmetro médio menor do que o recomendado pelos métodos tradicionais de dimensionamento. Na terceira e última etapa dos ensaios, as características das ondas obtidas na primeira etapa do estudo foram reproduzidas novamente, porém em um tanque de ondas tridimensional, instalado no Pavilhão Fluvial (IPH/UFRGS). Nesta etapa do estudo, foi avaliado o efeito da ação das ondas sobre diferentes ângulos de incidência das ondas sobre talude de proteção. Os resultados obtidos nesta etapa demonstraram que o aumento do ângulo de incidência das ondas sobre o talude de proteção, intensifica o processo erosivo do material de proteção das margens. / This work presents an experimental study about waves action effects on the banks of rivers that are downstream from hydraulic structures. The work was carried out in three stages, being that the first one was realized in a reduced partial physical model of a spillway with steps and a channel downstream from it, installed in the Hydraulic Works Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). In this first stage, different flow and submergence conditions were considered, with the objective of evaluating the characteristics of surface waves, that were generated downstream from a energy dissipator by hydraulic jump. The evaluated characteristics were: height, period, length and celerity of the waves. The results of this first stage indicated that height and wave period, considered the two main characteristics of waves, are more related to the outflow than to the submergence of hydraulic jump. In addition, through the comparison between the estimated and observed data of wave celerity, it was possible to identify that the significant period of wave represents better the characterization of a wave than the peak period, for waves generated downstream from a hydraulic jump. In the second stage of the tests, the wave characteristics obtained in the first stage of the study were reproduced in a two-dimensional wave channel, installed in the Fluvial Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). In this way, it was possible to evaluate the effect of wave action on embankments with different inclinations and composed by protection material of diverses granulometries. The results of this experiment demonstrated that the embankment constructed with protective material called large gravel (G) and slope 1 (V): 3 (H) was the one that presented greater stability after the waves action, even though this material to has an average diameter smaller than that recommended by traditional dimensional methods. In the third and last stage of tests, the wave characteristics obtained in the first stage of study were reproduced again, but now in a three-dimensional wave tank installed in the Fluvial Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). At this stage of the study, the effect of wave action on different angles of incidence between waves and the protective embankment was evaluated. The results obtained from this step demonstrated that the increase of the angle of incidence between wave and protective slope intensifies the erosive process of material that compose the banks.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental sobre o efeito da ação das ondas nas margens de rios que estão a jusante de estruturas hidráulicas. O trabalho foi realizado em três etapas, sendo a primeira realizada em modelo físico reduzido parcial de um vertedouro em degraus com canal a jusante, instalado no Pavilhão de Obras Hidráulicas (IPH/UFRGS). Nesta primeira etapa, diferentes condições de vazão e submergência foram consideradas, com o objetivo de avaliar as características das ondas de superfície, geradas a jusante de um dissipador de energia por ressalto hidráulico. As características avaliadas foram: altura, período, comprimento e celeridade das ondas. Os resultados dessa primeira etapa indicaram que as características principais das ondas, altura e período, estão mais relacionadas com a vazão escoada do que com a submergência do ressalto hidráulico. Além disso, através da comparação entre os dados estimados e observados da celeridade da onda, foi possível identificar que o período significativo da onda representa melhor a caracterização de uma onda que o período de pico, para ondas geradas a jusante de ressalto hidráulico. Na segunda etapa dos ensaios, as características das ondas obtidas na primeira etapa do estudo foram reproduzidas em um canal de ondas bidimensional, instalado no Pavilhão Fluvial (IPH/UFRGS). Desta forma, foi possível avaliar o efeito da ação das ondas sobre taludes com diferentes inclinações e granulometrias de material de proteção. Os resultados desta etapa demonstraram que o talude construído com material de proteção, denominado de brita grande (G) e com inclinação 1(V):3(H), foi o que apresentou maior estabilidade após a ação das ondas, mesmo sendo este um material de diâmetro médio menor do que o recomendado pelos métodos tradicionais de dimensionamento. Na terceira e última etapa dos ensaios, as características das ondas obtidas na primeira etapa do estudo foram reproduzidas novamente, porém em um tanque de ondas tridimensional, instalado no Pavilhão Fluvial (IPH/UFRGS). Nesta etapa do estudo, foi avaliado o efeito da ação das ondas sobre diferentes ângulos de incidência das ondas sobre talude de proteção. Os resultados obtidos nesta etapa demonstraram que o aumento do ângulo de incidência das ondas sobre o talude de proteção, intensifica o processo erosivo do material de proteção das margens. / This work presents an experimental study about waves action effects on the banks of rivers that are downstream from hydraulic structures. The work was carried out in three stages, being that the first one was realized in a reduced partial physical model of a spillway with steps and a channel downstream from it, installed in the Hydraulic Works Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). In this first stage, different flow and submergence conditions were considered, with the objective of evaluating the characteristics of surface waves, that were generated downstream from a energy dissipator by hydraulic jump. The evaluated characteristics were: height, period, length and celerity of the waves. The results of this first stage indicated that height and wave period, considered the two main characteristics of waves, are more related to the outflow than to the submergence of hydraulic jump. In addition, through the comparison between the estimated and observed data of wave celerity, it was possible to identify that the significant period of wave represents better the characterization of a wave than the peak period, for waves generated downstream from a hydraulic jump. In the second stage of the tests, the wave characteristics obtained in the first stage of the study were reproduced in a two-dimensional wave channel, installed in the Fluvial Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). In this way, it was possible to evaluate the effect of wave action on embankments with different inclinations and composed by protection material of diverses granulometries. The results of this experiment demonstrated that the embankment constructed with protective material called large gravel (G) and slope 1 (V): 3 (H) was the one that presented greater stability after the waves action, even though this material to has an average diameter smaller than that recommended by traditional dimensional methods. In the third and last stage of tests, the wave characteristics obtained in the first stage of study were reproduced again, but now in a three-dimensional wave tank installed in the Fluvial Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). At this stage of the study, the effect of wave action on different angles of incidence between waves and the protective embankment was evaluated. The results obtained from this step demonstrated that the increase of the angle of incidence between wave and protective slope intensifies the erosive process of material that compose the banks.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo experimental sobre o efeito da ação das ondas nas margens de rios que estão a jusante de estruturas hidráulicas. O trabalho foi realizado em três etapas, sendo a primeira realizada em modelo físico reduzido parcial de um vertedouro em degraus com canal a jusante, instalado no Pavilhão de Obras Hidráulicas (IPH/UFRGS). Nesta primeira etapa, diferentes condições de vazão e submergência foram consideradas, com o objetivo de avaliar as características das ondas de superfície, geradas a jusante de um dissipador de energia por ressalto hidráulico. As características avaliadas foram: altura, período, comprimento e celeridade das ondas. Os resultados dessa primeira etapa indicaram que as características principais das ondas, altura e período, estão mais relacionadas com a vazão escoada do que com a submergência do ressalto hidráulico. Além disso, através da comparação entre os dados estimados e observados da celeridade da onda, foi possível identificar que o período significativo da onda representa melhor a caracterização de uma onda que o período de pico, para ondas geradas a jusante de ressalto hidráulico. Na segunda etapa dos ensaios, as características das ondas obtidas na primeira etapa do estudo foram reproduzidas em um canal de ondas bidimensional, instalado no Pavilhão Fluvial (IPH/UFRGS). Desta forma, foi possível avaliar o efeito da ação das ondas sobre taludes com diferentes inclinações e granulometrias de material de proteção. Os resultados desta etapa demonstraram que o talude construído com material de proteção, denominado de brita grande (G) e com inclinação 1(V):3(H), foi o que apresentou maior estabilidade após a ação das ondas, mesmo sendo este um material de diâmetro médio menor do que o recomendado pelos métodos tradicionais de dimensionamento. Na terceira e última etapa dos ensaios, as características das ondas obtidas na primeira etapa do estudo foram reproduzidas novamente, porém em um tanque de ondas tridimensional, instalado no Pavilhão Fluvial (IPH/UFRGS). Nesta etapa do estudo, foi avaliado o efeito da ação das ondas sobre diferentes ângulos de incidência das ondas sobre talude de proteção. Os resultados obtidos nesta etapa demonstraram que o aumento do ângulo de incidência das ondas sobre o talude de proteção, intensifica o processo erosivo do material de proteção das margens. / This work presents an experimental study about waves action effects on the banks of rivers that are downstream from hydraulic structures. The work was carried out in three stages, being that the first one was realized in a reduced partial physical model of a spillway with steps and a channel downstream from it, installed in the Hydraulic Works Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). In this first stage, different flow and submergence conditions were considered, with the objective of evaluating the characteristics of surface waves, that were generated downstream from a energy dissipator by hydraulic jump. The evaluated characteristics were: height, period, length and celerity of the waves. The results of this first stage indicated that height and wave period, considered the two main characteristics of waves, are more related to the outflow than to the submergence of hydraulic jump. In addition, through the comparison between the estimated and observed data of wave celerity, it was possible to identify that the significant period of wave represents better the characterization of a wave than the peak period, for waves generated downstream from a hydraulic jump. In the second stage of the tests, the wave characteristics obtained in the first stage of the study were reproduced in a two-dimensional wave channel, installed in the Fluvial Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). In this way, it was possible to evaluate the effect of wave action on embankments with different inclinations and composed by protection material of diverses granulometries. The results of this experiment demonstrated that the embankment constructed with protective material called large gravel (G) and slope 1 (V): 3 (H) was the one that presented greater stability after the waves action, even though this material to has an average diameter smaller than that recommended by traditional dimensional methods. In the third and last stage of tests, the wave characteristics obtained in the first stage of study were reproduced again, but now in a three-dimensional wave tank installed in the Fluvial Laboratory (IPH / UFRGS). At this stage of the study, the effect of wave action on different angles of incidence between waves and the protective embankment was evaluated. The results obtained from this step demonstrated that the increase of the angle of incidence between wave and protective slope intensifies the erosive process of material that compose the banks.