This manual provides guidance for the design of coastal revetment, seawalls, and bulkheads.

In areas subject to wind-driven waves and surge, structures such as revetment, seawalls, and bulkheads are commonly employed either to combat erosion or to maintain development at an advanced position from the natural shoreline. Proper performance of such structures is predicated on close adherence to established design guidance. This manual presents important design considerations and describes commonly available materials and structural component. All applicable design guidance must be applied to avoid poor performance or failure. Study of all available structural materials can lead, under some conditions, to innovative designs at significant cost savings for civil works projects.

The purpose of the Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM) is to provide a comprehensive technical coastal engineering document. It includes the basic principles of coastal processes, methods for computing coastal planning and design parameters, and guidance on how to formulate coastal flood studies, shore protection, and navigation projects.

The CEM is divided into two major subdivisions: science-based and engineering based. The science subdivision is further divided into three parts. The first part, “Coastal Hydrodynamics,” leads the reader from the fundamental principles of wave theory and ocean wave generation through the process of wave transformation as the wave form approaches and reacts with the shore including water-level variations and currents. The second part, “Coastal Sediment Processes,” addresses longshore and cross-shore transport as well as shelf, and wind transport processes. The third part, “Coastal Geology,” covers geomorphology, coastal classification, and morphodynamic processes on sandy shores.

The engineering-based subdivision is oriented toward a project-type approach, rather then the individual structure design and is divided into two parts. The first one, “Coastal Planning and Design,” provides information on the design process and selection of appropriate type of solution to various coastal problems. The second part, “Design of Coastal Project Elements,” provides engineering guidance on materials, fundamentals of design, and reliability.

The first four parts of the CEM and an appendix were issued in 30 April 2002. These included:

The engineering-based subdivision is oriented toward a project-type approach and is divided into two parts. Part V, “Coastal Project Planning and Design,” was published separately on 31 July 2003. The text and figures provide information on the design process and selection of appropriate types of solution to various coastal problems. Part VI, “Design of Coastal Project Elements,” which provides engineering guidance on materials, fundamentals of design, and reliability, was published on 28 September 2011.

The purpose of this manual is to provide an overview of coastal geology and a discussion of data sources and study methods applicable to coastal geological field studies. “Coastal geology” is defined as the science of landforms, structures, rocks, and sediments with particular emphasis on the coastal zone. Material in this manual has been adapted from textbooks and technical literature from the fields of geology, geomorphology, geophysics, oceanography, meteorology, and geotechnical engineering.

The practicing scientist involved in coastal projects is expected to be able to obtain a general overview of most aspects of coastal geology and to be able to refer to the reference list for additional information on specific topics.