The present paper describes a 3D physical model study for the new constructed Hadarom Port in Ashdod, Israel. As it is an extension project based on the old harbor, and to reserve the navigation conditions of the exit harbor, the construction of the new harbor would be executed under the extreme wave conditions in the open Mediterranean Sea. The model test study was focus on the performance of the temporary protections of the uncompleted breakwaters during the extreme wave conditions in winter. The stability of the armour layer, including the units on the landward, seaward, crest and toe are investigated, as well as the core layer. The effectiveness temporary protection modes of breakwater roundhead under high frequency and strong waves were discussed, which would provide helpful experience and reference for the engineering construction of similar kind.
Ashdod Port is Israel's main cargo port and is processing approximately 60% of the countries marine cargo, and which is the 2nd deep water port in Israel. The Port of Ashdod remains one of the few deep-water ports in the world to be built on the open sea. The construction of breakwaters in relatively deep water involved great engineering challenges. The present Stage-3 engineering work of Ashdod Port, involves the extension of the Main Breakwater (MBW) by 600m, the construction of a new LEE Breakwater (LBW) of 1500 meter and the reclamation of 80 hectares, as seen in Figure 1. This extension allows for the construction of 1550 meters of additional quays which shall be capable of handling the largest containers vessels currently in operation (14.500 TEU).
As it is an extension project based on the old harbor, and to reserve the navigation conditions of the exit harbor, the construction of the new harbor would be executed under the extreme wave conditions in the open Mediterranean Ocean. In the meanwhile, the total construction periods of the MBW and LBW would be 3~4 years, which means the uncompleted head of the Breakwater would be exposed to the open seas and attacked by the long period large waves, especially for the winter storms from November to the next March.
