CREST ELEMENT FOR A BREAKWATER, REINFORCEMENT LAYER ASSEMBLY FOR A BREAKWATER, BREAKWATER, METHOD FOR FORMING CRESTS IN A BREAKWATER, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REINFORCEMENT IN A BREAKWATER

Abstract

The invention relates to a crest element in a breakwater armor layer assembly; the crest element comprises: a central part; two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along, when placed on a breakwater, the longitudinal direction of the breakwater; and a nose extending from the central part in a forward direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater; the rear side of the central part is a vertically oriented rear face looking in a rearward direction, opposite to the forward direction; the crest element can be used in particular as a crest element for armor layers comprising armor elements of the type having a central part from which: two wings extend in opposite directions and a tail and a nose extend in opposite directions transverse to the direction of extension of the wings;The invention also relates to a layer of armor, a breakwater, and methods that utilize crest elements.

Description

CREST ELEMENT FOR A BREAKWATER, REINFORCEMENT LAYER ASSEMBLY FOR A BREAKWATER, BREAKWATER, METHOD FOR FORMING CRESTS IN A BREAKWATER, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REINFORCEMENT IN A BREAKWATER FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a breakwater. A breakwater has an elongated core body extending horizontally with one or two sloping sides. Generally, a filter layer and / or a bottom layer are provided on one or more of the sloping sides and optionally also at the base of one or more of the sloping sides in the adjacent water body. As a top layer, the one or more sloping sides are covered with a layer of reinforcement. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION On the upper side of a rebar layer, so-called crest elements, sometimes also referred to as crown elements, may be provided for various reasons. Crest elements may be provided, for example, to delimit the rebar layer from a structure above it, such as a road or a seafront promenade. In the case of low-crested breakwaters, crest elements may also be provided to prevent waves from passing over the breakwater. In both cases, the crest elements are essentially L-shaped. The vertical leg of the L-shape provides the boundary between the rebar layer and the structure above it, or prevents waves from passing over it, respectively. The horizontal leg projects away from the rebar layer and serves to provide stability to the crest element, allowing the vertical leg to stand upright and withstand the waves. With reference to the applicant's document WO-2018 / 052292, it is known that the armor layer can be made of armor elements, referred to as deck elements in document WO-2018 / 052292, laid in a tile-like fashion on the slope of a breakwater. The armor element of document WO-2018 / 052292 comprises a central portion, two wings – referred to as noses in document WO-2018 / 052292 – projecting from the central portion in opposite directions, a nose – referred to as the first leg in document WO-2018 / 052292 – projecting from the central portion in a forward direction transverse to the extension of the wings, and a tail – referred to as the second leg in document WO-2018 / 052292 – extending from the central portion in a rearward direction, opposite to the forward direction.This armor element of WO-2018 / 052292 may optionally have a third leg extending upwards from the center, perpendicular to the forward / backward direction and perpendicular to the wings. Providing the armor element of WO-2018 / 052292, above the third leg, with a fourth leg extending downwards from the center, opposite to the upward direction, may result in an armor element in accordance with the applicant's WO-2004 / 009910. The truss elements of the type described in documents WO-2018 / 052292 and WO2004 / 009910 have projections—such as wings, tails, and noses—that extend from the central part. These projections, when arranged as a truss layer, create spaces through which the water from waves acting on the breakwater passes. As the water passes through these spaces, the wave energy is dissipated by damping. In the transition from a layer of reinforcement with reinforcement elements in accordance with WO-2018 / 052292 or in a horizontal construction, such as a road or boulevard, either L-shaped ridge elements are used or the upper projections of the upper reinforcement elements are embedded in the one or more foundation layers of the road / boulevard. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide an alternative ridge element, which can be used in particular as a ridge element for armor layers comprising armor elements of the type having a central portion from which i) two wings extend in opposite directions and ii) a tail and a nose extend in opposite directions transverse to the direction of wing extension. Armor elements of this type are, for example, those in Figure 3 of documents WO-2018 / 052292 or WO-2004 / 009910. This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the invention by providing a crest element for a breakwater armor layer, wherein the crest element comprises: a central part, two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along, when placed on a breakwater, the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a nose extending from the central part in a forward direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater; and wherein the rear side of the central part is a rear face, oriented vertically, looking in a rearward direction, opposite to the forward direction. The ridge element according to the invention therefore has a central part that has an upper side, a lower side, a rear side which is a back face, and a front side. MA / a / ZUZI 4ÓOJ from which a nose projects, a left side from which a left wing projects, and a right side from which a right wing projects. During use—that is, when the crest element is placed on a breakwater—the x-axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and the xy-axis and y-axis are both essentially horizontal. Unlike armor elements of the type having two wings, a nose, and a tail, such as the armor elements according to Figure 3 in documents WO2018 / 052292 or WO-2004 / 009910, the (central) crest element according to the invention does not have a substantial projection, such as a so-called tail, on the rear side. Instead, the rear side of the central part consists of a vertically oriented rear face. The back face of the crest element according to the invention can be called the leveled back face and allows for an easy and smooth transition from the reinforcement layer to the structure above the reinforcement layer, such as a road or boulevard. From an aesthetic point of view, the transition achieved with a crest element according to the invention can be called streamlined, because no additional crest element of substantially different shape and configuration than the reinforcement elements is required, and because inefficient gaps in the reinforcement layer adjacent to the transition are avoided. However, this streamlined transition also allows for more efficient breakwater designs and, consequently, more effective breakwaters.This is because effectively no wave energy damping transition, viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, remains smaller, resulting in a gain of space that can be used for constructive wave energy damping measures efficiently and / or to design the breakwater with a smaller width (transverse to its length). Furthermore, the front side—facing away from the breakwater and toward the water—of the crest element according to the invention has a wave energy damping function similar or approximately the same as that of the reinforcement elements of the reinforcement layer, without the crest element (inefficiently) projecting above the reinforcement layer when viewed crosswise. When a crest element projects above the reinforcement layer, as is the case with L-shaped crest elements used to prevent waves from passing through, it will dissipate wave energy through braking, not damping. Waves striking a projecting crest element will be abruptly stopped, causing large forces to act on the crest element, pushing it away.In fact, the overturning of the projecting crest element will be counteracted by the rearward-projecting horizontal leg. This rearward-projecting leg will exert downward forces on the breakwater, which in turn will require structural measures to resist or reduce them. MA / a / ZUZI 4ÓOJ these forces. The armor layer with which this crest element can be used according to the first aspect of the invention, can be formed by horizontal rows of armor elements, wherein each armor element comprises a central part, two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along a longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a tail extending from the central part in a direction backwards towards the breakwater and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and a nose extending from the central part in a forward direction, opposite to the backward direction.In a further embodiment of this reinforcement layer, the flanges of the reinforcement members in each of these horizontal rows may be aligned with each other, and the noses of the reinforcement members in an above horizontal row may rest on the reinforcement members in a below horizontal row. In this further embodiment of the reinforcement layer, the horizontal rows are, so to speak, stacked one on top of the other along the slope of the breakwater, such that the noses of the reinforcement members in an above horizontal row rest on the reinforcement members in a below horizontal row, resulting in the reinforcement members being tiled over the slope of the breakwater.This tile-like arrangement can be a straight arrangement, but it is preferably a staggered arrangement. In the straight arrangement, the nose of a truss member in a horizontal row above rests on the upper side of the tail of a truss member in a horizontal row below, resulting in the truss members also being arranged in straight rows when viewed down the slope of the breakwater.In the preferred staggered arrangement, the nose of said armor element of said upper row of armor elements rests on two wings of two of said adjacent armor elements of said lower row of armor elements, while the wings of this same armor element rest on the tails of the same two adjacent armor elements of the lower row of armor elements, resulting in the armor elements being arranged in staggered horizontal rows when viewed in the direction of the breakwater slope. According to another embodiment of the ridge element according to the first aspect of the invention, the rear side of the wings is a vertically oriented rear face that is generally at the same level as the rear face of the central portion. This allows the ridge element according to the invention to be arranged in a horizontal row, with the wings of the ridge elements aligned. The rear faces of the wings, which are generally at the same level as the rear face of the central portion of the ridge element, provide in the MA / a / ZUZI 4ÓOJ longitudinal direction of the breakwater a generally uninterrupted rear surface of the crest element. When these crest elements are placed in a row with the wings aligned, consecutive crest elements provide at the rear of the row, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the row, a generally continuous facade or wall, facade / wall which may have indentations between the tips of adjacent wings. According to another embodiment of the crest element according to the invention, the rear faces of the wings can be, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, coplanar to the rear face of the central part to provide a smooth, so to speak, invisible transition. According to another embodiment of the crest element according to the first aspect of the invention, the central part, the two wings, and the nose are formed as a single part, such as a single part made of concrete. The concrete may be reinforced or unreinforced concrete. According to yet another embodiment of the ridge element according to the first aspect of the invention, the lower face of the central portion is a horizontal lower face. According to this embodiment, the lower side of the (central portion of the) ridge element does not have a substantial projection. In a further embodiment of this embodiment, the upper side of the central portion can also be a horizontal face, in this case a horizontal upper face. In this latter case, the upper side of the (central portion of the) ridge element does not have a substantial projection. Again, according to yet another embodiment of the crest element according to the first aspect of the invention, an x-axis is defined by the direction of wing extension, a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis is defined by the direction of nose extension, and an xy-plane is defined by the plane encompassed by the xy-axis and the y-axis. In other embodiments of this embodiment: the rear face of the central part is inclined with respect to the xy-plane, the inclination, when viewed from the lower side of the crest element towards the upper side of the crest element, being in the forward direction; the inclined rear face also results in the center of gravity of the crest element moving forward and downward, and the point of rotation of the crest element when lifted by waves shifting rearward, thus improving the stability of the crest elements against capsizing by passing waves.When backfill material is provided along the back side of the crest element, the sloping back side offers several additional advantages. The sloping back side allows the backfill material to exert additional forces on the crest element and the reinforcement layer. Due to the backfill material, the sloping back side of the crest element will experience a force exerted by the backfill material that will press down on the reinforcement layer, thus improving the stability of the reinforcement layer against uplift or displacement by wave forces. If the backfill material comprises large stones or internal filler blocks, such as concrete, the sloping back side helps to provide a seamless connection between the crest element and the stone or internal filler block, even if the stone or internal filler block does not fit perfectly.The improved stability obtained due to the change in the center of gravity and the point of rotation applies both with and without filler material. and / or the angle between the back face and the xy plane is at most 80°, such as at most 75° or at most 70°; to ensure that the fill material will exert a significant contributing force on the crest element, the angle shall be at most 80°. For the force exerted by the fill material to be substantially effective, the angle is at most 75°. When the angle is at most 70°, the effect of the displacement of the center of gravity and the displacement of the point of rotation is efficiently effective. Furthermore, an angle of at most 75° or at most 70° can be useful for guiding the load material—which in the case of breakwaters frequently comprises fragments of stony material—properly downwards along the sloping back face without requiring compaction.This is particularly relevant in relation to breakwaters because if water can enter the fill material, the fill material may become fluidized and require adequate self-settlement after the water has left the fill material, without any compaction action being necessary. and / or the angle between the back face and the xy plane is at least 50°, such as at least 60°; and / or the angle between the back face and the xy plane is in the range of approximately 55° to approximately 80°, preferably in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 75°; and / or the angle between the back face and the xy plane is in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 70°, such as approximately 65°. In the event that the wings can have their rear faces level with the rear face of the central part, the rear faces of these wings will also be inclined, and the embodiments and considerations described in this paragraph will also apply mutatis mutandis to the inclined rear faces of the wings. The object of the invention, according to a second aspect of the invention, is achieved by providing an armor layer assembly for a breakwater, comprising: a plurality of horizontal rows of truss members, a horizontal row of ridge members placed on top of the top row of the plurality of horizontal rows of truss members; wherein each ridge element is a ridge element according to the first aspect of the invention; wherein said armor element comprises a central part, two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along a longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a tail extending from the central part in a direction backwards towards the breakwater and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and a nose extending from the central part in a direction forwards, opposite to the backwards direction; where the wings of the armor elements of each of said rows are aligned with each other; where the wings of the crest elements of the crest element row are aligned with each other; where the noses of the truss members of an above row of truss members rest on the truss members of a below row of truss members; and where the tips of the ridge members of the ridge member row rest on the truss members of the top row of truss members. This results in an arrangement similar to that of roof tiles on a roof, consisting of truss members and ridge elements according to the invention. As explained above, this can be an aligned arrangement, but it is preferably a staggered arrangement. According to a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the staggered arrangement can be worded as: wherein the nose of said a truss member of said upper row of truss members rests on two wings of two of said adjacent truss members of said lower row of truss members; wherein the wings of said truss member of said row of truss members rest on the tails of the two adjacent truss members of the lower row of truss members; wherein the nose of said a ridge member of the ridge member row rests on two wings of two adjacent truss members of the upper row of truss members; and wherein the wings of said ridge member of the truss member row rest on the tails of the two adjacent truss members of the upper row of truss members.The staggered arrangement provides, on the one hand, an interaction between all the truss elements of the truss layer, an interaction that keeps the truss elements in place, while, on the other hand, relatively large intermediate spaces are provided between the truss elements to dampen wave forces by allowing water to pass through the intermediate spaces. The object of the invention, according to a third aspect of the invention, is achieved by providing a breakwater having at least one oblique side provided with: a row of ridge elements according to the first aspect of the invention, or an assembly according to the second aspect of the invention. According to another embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the breakwater has a top portion and a middle portion with an inclined rear face. The row of crest elements is provided below the top portion of the breakwater such that an intermediate space is defined between the rear faces of the row of crest elements and the breakwater. This intermediate space, when viewed vertically upwards and adjacent to the rear faces, diverges. The intermediate space is filled with a filler material that exerts a force on the rear faces having a component parallel to the rear face and a component transverse to the rear face. In the present document, 'filler' means that the intermediate space is at least partially filled, but may also be almost completely filled.As explained above in relation to an embodiment of the first aspect, the filler material will contribute to the stability of the armor layer and the crest elements by exerting a force on the inclined rear face of the central part, as well as - in the case of wings with inclined rear faces - on the inclined rear face of the wings. According to another further embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the breakwater has two opposite oblique sides that meet at the top of the breakwater and central portions having an inclined back face. The rows of crest elements are arranged at the top of the breakwater such that the back faces of both rows, when viewed vertically upwards, define a diverging intermediate space. This diverging intermediate space is filled with a filler material that exerts a force on the back faces having a component parallel to the respective back face and a component transverse to the respective back face. In the present document, 'filler' means that the intermediate space is at least partially filled, but it can also be almost completely filled.As explained above in relation to an embodiment of the first aspect, the filler material will contribute to the stability of the armor layer and the crest elements by exerting a force on the inclined rear face of the central part, as well as - in the case of wings with inclined rear faces - on the inclined rear face of the wings. MA / a / ZUZI 4ÓOJ According to yet another embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the filler material consists of fragments of stony material (such as natural stone, stone or artificial concrete) and / or asphalt, such as an asphalt road. Again, according to yet another embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the angle of the back face of the central part with respect to the horizontal plane is configured in such a way that a line perpendicular to the back face defines an angle with respect to the horizontal plane that is less than the angle of the slope with respect to the horizontal plane. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for forming ridges in a truss layer of a breakwater, wherein the ridge is provided by placing a horizontal row of ridge elements according to the first aspect of the invention. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for providing armor on the oblique side of a breakwater, wherein the oblique side is provided by placing an armor layer assembly according to the second aspect of the invention on the oblique side. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a method for providing a breakwater is provided, wherein the provided breakwater is a breakwater according to the third aspect of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art truss element from document WO-2018 / 052292; Figure 2 schematically shows a breakwater, in a front perspective view, a breakwater that is provided with stepped rows of truss elements according to Figure 1; Figure 3 schematically shows a side view of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a detail of Figure 2, in a perspective view, of how the truss element of an upper row of truss elements rests on two identical truss elements of a lower row of truss elements; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a ridge element according to the invention; Figure 6 shows a top view of the upper side of the ridge element of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a side view of the left side of the ridge element of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows a front view of the front side of the ridge element of Figure 5; Figure 9 shows a view from below of the lower side of the ridge element of Figure 5; Figure 10 shows, in a front perspective view (similar to Figure 2), a first embodiment of a breakwater according to the invention provided with crest elements according to the invention; Figure 11 schematically shows a side view of the breakwater of Figure 10 (similar to Figure 3); and Figure 12 shows, in a cross-sectional view, a second embodiment of a breakwater according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows as an example a truss element 1 of the type having a central part 2 of which: Two wings 3, 4 project in opposite directions, and a tail 5 and a nose 6 project in opposite directions transverse to the direction of extension of wings 3, 4. As can be seen in Figure 1: the right wing 3 has an extension direction along a horizontal axis 7 and the left wing 4 has an extension direction along the same horizontal axis 7, but in a direction opposite to the extension direction of the right wing 3; the tail 5 has an extension direction along the horizontal axis 8 and the nose 6 has an extension direction along the same horizontal axis 8, but in a direction opposite to the extension direction of the tail 5; and the horizontal axis 7 is transverse with respect to the horizontal axis 8. The example of a truss element in Figure 1 corresponds to the truss element in Figure 14 of the applicant's document WO-2018 / 052292. For further details of this truss element 1, reference is made to document WO-2018 / 052292, which describes and explains, among other things, the shapes and functions of the wings 3 and 4, the tail 5, the nose 6, and the vertical passage 9 through the central part. Document WO-2018 / 052292 also shows other examples of a truss element of the above type, having a central part from which two opposing wings and an opposing tail and nose project. As shown in the example in Figures 2-4, a truss member 1 of the type mentioned above can be placed in a plurality of rows along the slope of a breakwater. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the breakwater 10 is shown very schematically with its slope 12 and toe zone 11 (also called the leg zone). The toe zone 11 is shown as a generally horizontal surface, and the slope 12 is shown as an inclined surface. The slope angle α of a breakwater is generally in the range of approximately 30° to approximately 60°. In the example in Figures 2-3, the slope angle α is approximately 33°. In the example in Figures 2-3, the truss layer 17 comprises four rows 1316 of truss members 1. The truss members 1 of the lowest row 13 rest with their lower sides on the toe area 11. From the toe area upwards, row 14 of truss members 11 rests on the lowest row 13 of truss members and on the slope 12; row 15 of truss members 11 rests on row 14 of truss members; and the top row 16 of truss members 11 rests on row 15 of truss members and on the slope 12. As can be seen in Figure 2, the flanges 3, 4 of the truss member in the lowest row are, in the horizontal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, aligned with each other. Similarly, the flanges of the truss members in the other rows are also aligned with each other.In each row, the tip of a right wing 3 may touch the tip of the adjacent left wing 4, but, as indicated by arrow 18 in the middle of the top row 16, a gap or space may well be left between these tips. Although these gaps are only clearly visible in Figure 2 for the top row 16, it will be understood that these gaps 18 may also be present in the other rows 13, 14, and 15. This application also uses the terms top row of truss members and bottom row of truss members. The terms top and bottom are used herein to indicate the relationship between two adjacent rows of truss members, the bottom row being (diagonally) below the top row or, conversely, the top row being (diagonally) above the bottom row. As can be seen in Figure 3, the tails 5 of the truss members rest on the slope 12. As is best seen in Figure 4, but can also be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the truss members in a row above, for example, row 14, rest on the truss members in a row below, for example, row 13. As indicated by arrows 21, 22, and 23 in Figure 4, a truss member la of a row above 14 has three points of support on two adjacent truss members lb of a row below 13. At location 21, the lower side of the right flange 3 of the truss member la of the row above rests on the upper side of the tail 5 of the truss member lb to the right. At location 22, the lower side of the left flange 4 of the truss member la of the row above rests on the upper side of the tail 5 of the truss member lb to the left. At location 23, the lower side of the nose 6 ML / a / ZUZ 1 4ÓOJ of the truss element in the top row rests on the upper side of the right wing 3 of the truss element lb to the left, as well as on the upper side of the left wing 4 of the truss element lb to the right. It can be said that location 23 provides two points of support. The arrangement of rows as shown in Figures 2-4 is called a staggered arrangement. The truss members la of an upper row are staggered or offset with respect to the truss members lb of a lower row. Each truss member la of an upper row is, so to speak, supported by two truss members of a lower row. It is also conceivable to arrange the rows of truss members in a aligned arrangement. In the aligned arrangement, the truss member la of an upper row will generally be supported by a truss member lb of a lower row. The lower side of the nose 6 of a truss member la of an upper row will then be supported by the upper side of the tail 5 of a truss member lb of a lower row. Figures 2 and 3 correspond to Figure 21 and Figure 20 respectively of document WO-2018 / 052292. For further details on the staggered and aligned arrangement of the rows of a reinforcement layer, reference is made to document WO-2018 / 052292, not only to its Figures 20, 21 and associated text, but more generally to the entire document WO-2018 / 052292, among which the parts related to the so-called second aspect of document WO-2018 / 052292 to which Figures 6, 13 and 20-23 are specifically dedicated. As follows, the nose 6 is more generally a protrusion of the central part 2 that serves to find support on a lower layer of the reinforcement elements. This nose 6 can be referred to by many names, such as protrusion or peak if it resembles a peak. The same applies to the nose 106 of the ridge element according to the invention, which will be described below. Figures 5 to 9 show a ridge element 101 according to the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view, Figure 6 is a top view of the upper side, Figure 7 is a left side view, Figure 8 is a front view of the front side of the ridge element 101, and Figure 9 is a bottom view of the bottom side of the ridge element 101. In the example in Figures 5-9, the front half of ridge member 101 is approximately identical to the front half of truss member 1 in Figures 1-4. The portions of ridge member 101 that are similar to respective portions of truss member 1 are indicated by the same reference number increased by one hundred. Like truss member 1, ridge member 101 has a central portion 102 from which a right wing 103, a left wing 104, and a nose 106 project. The wings 103 and 104 extend in opposite directions along the horizontal axis 107, and the nose 106 extends along a horizontal axis 108 transverse to axis 107. The plane defined by axes 107 and 108 herein is referred to as the xy plane. The crest element 101 differs from the truss element 1 essentially on its back side 129. As can be seen in Figures 5-9, the back side of the central part 102 is a vertically oriented back face 125, which can slope at an angle y = 90° - β - (for β see Figure 7) - with respect to the xy-plane defined by the axes 107 and 108. In the embodiment of the ridge element 101 shown in Figures 5-9, the angle y is approximately 65°, i.e., β is approximately 25°. However, the angle y can also be greater or less than 65°. The angle y can be in the range of approximately 55° to approximately 80°, and it may be preferred that it have a value in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 75°. The angle, which is less than 80°, serves to exert a lateral force by means of earth material and / or fragments of stony material as illustrated in figures 10 and 11 with reference numbers 131 and 205.However, it is observed that the angle y can, according to one embodiment of the invention, also be in the range of 80-90° or even greater than 90°. As can be seen in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 9, the back face 125 of the central part 102 may exhibit a deviation 132 at its center, at the level of axis 108. The angle θ of the deviation—see Figure 6—may be, for example, approximately 4° with respect to axis 107. However, it should be noted that the deviation may be slightly larger or that the back face of the central part may also be substantially flat, in which case the deviation angle θ will be approximately 0°. When the term deviation is used in this application, this deviation may generally have a deviation angle θ in the range of 0° to approximately 7°. Furthermore, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 7, the back face 125 of the central part 102 may present a discontinuity 133 at its lower end; in this example, a recessed section is recessed with respect to the inclined section of the back face 125. A protruding section, such as a rib, quite small in relation to the size of the ridge element, is also conceivable. In the embodiment shown, the vertically directed back face 125 of the central part 102 is generally flat and can, despite the discontinuity 133 and / or deviation 132, be called the level back face 125. Referring to Figures 5, 6, and 7, it can be seen that in this embodiment the rear side of wings 103 and 104 is a vertically oriented rear face 126, which in this embodiment has a discontinuity 133 at its lower end, also in the form of a retracted section. The vertically oriented rear face 126 of wings 103 and 104 is generally flat and ML / a / ZUZ 1 4ÓOJ can, despite the discontinuity and a possible deviation, be called a level back face 126. Furthermore, the trailing surfaces 126 of the wings may be level with the trailing surface 125 of the central part. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the trailing surfaces 126 of the wings 103, 104 may even be coplanar with the trailing surface 125 of the central part 102. However, it is noted that a deviation, such as the deviation 132 on the trailing surface 125 of the central part 102, may also be present approximately at one or more transitions between the trailing surface 125 and one or more trailing surfaces 126. In addition, the trailing surfaces 126 of the wings themselves may exhibit a deviation, such as the deviation 132 on the trailing surface 125 of the central part 102. As can be seen in Figures 5-9, the underside of the central portion 102 of the crest element can be a horizontally oriented bottom face, which in this embodiment is generally flat. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5-9, not only is the underside of the central portion 102 generally flat, but the underside of the entire crest element is also generally flat. A horizontally oriented bottom face further facilitates the placement of the crest elements on a horizontal portion of the breakwater. Moreover, as clarified in WO-2018 / 052292, it can also facilitate the placement of the elements in a regular pattern. As can be seen in Figures 5-9, the top side of the central portion 102 of the ridge element can also be a horizontally oriented top face, which in this embodiment is generally flat. However, this is optional. Before moving on to Figures 10-12, it is generally observed that, with a breakwater according to the invention, the slope angle can be in the range of approximately 30° to approximately 40°, such as approximately 37°. Figures 10 and 11 show views very similar to those in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The main difference between Figures 10 and 11, on the one hand, and Figures 2 and 3, on the other hand, is that the top row 16 of truss members 1 in Figures 2-3 has been replaced by a row 130 of crest members 101, and that the vertical height of the breakwater 100 has been reduced to illustrate the functionality of the crest members 101 according to the invention. However, please note that the reduction of the breakwater 100 is for illustrative purposes only. The breakwater 100 in Figures 10-11 can also have the same height as, or a greater height than, the breakwater 1 in Figures 2-3. Figures 10-11 show a breakwater 100 having, in this example, three rows 13, 14, 15 of truss members according to Figure 1 and an upper row 130 of crest members 101 according to the invention. Since the front half of the crest members 101 is configured approximately the same as the (front half of) the truss members 1, the crest members 101 can rest on the upper row 15 of truss members 1 in the same manner as described in relation to Figures 2-4. As can be seen in figure 10, a cleft 118 can be left between the tips of adjacent wings 103, 104. It should be understood, however, that this cleft may also be absent if the wing tips 103, 104 touch each other. As can be seen in Figure 10, the rear faces of the wings and the central parts of consecutive crest elements 101 provide, when viewed in the longitudinal direction L of the breakwater 100, a continuous wall of crest elements 101 that optionally has slots 118 between adjacent crest elements. As shown schematically in Figure 11 with a dashed line 135, the slope 12 of the breakwater can continue at a distance from the crest elements 101 to provide a gap between the crest elements and the breakwater. Alternatively, some other structure can be provided at a distance from the crest elements to provide such a gap. When viewed vertically upward and adjacent to the crest elements, this gap is divergent. As shown in Figure 11, a fill material 131 can be provided adjacent to the continuous wall of ridge elements in the space between them. This fill material may comprise earth material, such as sand, but considering that earth material, such as sand, can be easily washed away by water, the fill material preferably comprises fragments of stony material. These fragments can range in size from approximately 10 mm to approximately 10 cm. Furthermore, these fragments can optionally be bonded or partially bonded, for example, with an asphalt compound. The fill material may also contain asphalt. Alternatively, the fill material may also comprise a stone or asphalt pavement.In the case of a road adjacent to the continuous wall of ridge elements, the fill may consist of the construction of a roadbed (which may generally comprise stony fragments) and a road pavement on top. Because the space between the ridge elements diverges adjacent to the ridge elements, the ridge elements will experience a force exerted by the fill material 131 on the inclined back faces 125 of the ridge elements 101. The force exerted by the backfill material on the crest elements can be decomposed into a downward-parallel component—see arrow A in Figure 11—parallel to the sloping back face 125, and a transverse component—see arrow B in Figure 11—transverse to the sloping back face. The angle β shown in Figure 7—or the complementary angle between the back face 125 and the horizontal plane defined by axes 107 and 108—is preferably such that the transverse force component B does not intersect the slope 12 of the reinforcement layer and is not parallel to the slope 12. In other words, the breakwater 100 is preferably configured such that the deflection B of the transverse force component diverges from the slope 12. This, in turn, reduces to configuring the back face 125 so that it is not perpendicular to the slope 12, but rather steeper than perpendicular to the slope. Assuming the underside of the crest element is positioned horizontally, and considering that the slope angle α of a breakwater is generally in the range of 30° to 60°, the angle β of the back face with respect to the horizontal underside will generally be approximately 40° or less. To ensure that the value of the transverse component B is sufficiently large to be effective, the angle β is, according to the invention, approximately 15° or more. To counteract voids in the fill material adjacent to the back face 125, 126, the angle β is, according to the invention, approximately 20° or more. Before turning to Figure 12, it is noted that the infill material 131 can also fill the intervening space to a much lower level or remain outside. In this case, the portion of the ridge elements 101 that projects freely upwards (i.e., not surrounded by infill material in the horizontal direction) can form a facade or balustrade, for example, a facade or balustrade along a boulevard or road. If serving as a facade or balustrade, the angle β in Figure 7 can be, for example, 0° in the range of approximately 0° to approximately 5°, in a situation where the forward displacement of the center of gravity and the rearward displacement of the point of rotation could be considered less significant. The same applies to Figure 12, which will now be analyzed. With reference now to Figure 12, a breakwater according to the invention and according to the prior art can be constructed in the following cross-section: a core body 206 of highly leveled rock material defining two slopes, one on the sea side 202 and one on the port side 204; a lower layer 207 of larger, but still relatively small rocks, such as rocks weighing 300 to 1000 kg; a layer of armor 201 on the sea side; a layer of armor 203 on the port side; one foot on the sea side with relatively large rocks, such as rocks weighing 1000 to 3000 kg; and one foot on the harbor side with relatively large rocks, such as rocks weighing 1000 to 3000 kg. The above construction and dimensions are just one example. In the case of a row of ridge elements according to the invention, the armor layers 201 and 203 may be provided at their upper ends with ridge elements 101 according to the invention. Preferably, the remainder of the armor layer comprises, according to the invention, rows of armor elements of the type having a central portion from which: two wings extend in opposite directions, and a tail and a nose extend in opposite directions transverse to the direction of wing extension. These armor elements may be, for example, armor elements as shown in Figures 1-4 of this application, but other armor elements such as those shown in documents WO2018 / 052292 or WO-2004 / 009910 of the applicant are also conceivable. As can be seen in Figure 12, the crest elements 101 of both reinforcement layers define an intermediate space 205 that narrows upwards between them. This intermediate space 205 can, according to the invention, be filled with a filler material (not shown), for example, a filler material as already described in relation to Figure 11. This filler material is largely protected from water by the continuous wall of crest elements, preventing the filler material from being washed away. Furthermore, the forces exerted by the filler material on the continuous wall of crest elements enhance the strength of the reinforcement layers 201 and 203. With reference to Figure 12, the crest elements according to the invention, and the optional filler material according to the invention, it is noted that the remainder of the breakwater construction 200 in Figure 12 is illustrative. It shall be understood that the crest element according to the invention, such as crest element 101 as shown in Figures 5-9, may be used in combination with armor elements of the type having a central portion from which: two wings extend in opposite directions, and a tail and a nose extend in opposite directions transverse to the direction of wing extension, such as the type of armor element shown in Figures 1-4. However, it shall be understood that the design of the front half of crest element 101 may differ from the design of (the front half of) the armor elements in combination with which it is used. As a general indication of dimensions, the ridge element according to the invention may have, for example: a vertical height of 1 to 1.5 m, such as approximately 1.1 m; a horizontal length from right to left of 1.5 to 2.75 m, such as approximately 2.25 m; a horizontal depth from back to front of 1.75 to 3 m, such as approximately 2.65 m. The embodiments of the invention derived from it may also be drafted as set forth in the following clauses: Clause 1: Crest element for a reinforcement layer of a breakwater, the reinforcement layer being formed by horizontal rows of reinforcement elements, wherein: Each armor element comprises a central part, two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along a longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a tail extending from the central part in a direction backwards towards the breakwater and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and a nose extending from the central part in a direction forwards, opposite to the backwards direction; the wings of the armor elements in each of said rows are aligned with each other; The noses of the armor elements in an upper row of armor elements rest on the armor elements in a lower row of armor elements; where the crest element comprises: a central part, two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along, when placed on a breakwater, the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a nose extending from the central part in a forward direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater; and wherein the rear side of the central part is a rear face, oriented vertically, looking in a rearward direction, opposite to the forward direction. Clause 2: Crest element according to clause 1, wherein the rear side of the wings is a vertically oriented rear face that may be at the same level as the rear face of the central part. Clause 3: Crest element according to one of clauses 1-2, wherein the central part, the two wings and the nose are formed as a single part, such as a single part made of concrete. Clause 4: Crest element in accordance with one of clauses 1-3, wherein the lower face of the central part is a horizontal lower face. Clause 5: Crest element according to one of clauses 1-4, wherein an x-axis is defined by the direction of wing extension, a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis is defined by the direction of nose extension, and an xy-plane is defined by the plane encompassed by the xy-axis and the y-axis. Clause 6: Ridge element according to clause 5, wherein the back face of the central part is inclined with respect to the xy plane, the inclination being, when viewed from the bottom side of the ridge element towards the top of the ridge element, in the forward direction. Clause 7: Ridge element according to one of clauses 5-6, wherein the angle between the back face of the center portion and the xy plane is at most 80°, such as at most 75° or at most 70°. Clause 8: Ridge element according to one of clauses 5-7, wherein the angle between the back face of the center portion and the xy plane is at least 50°, such as at least 60°. Clause 9: Ridge element according to one of clauses 5-8, wherein the angle between the back face of the center portion and the xy plane is in the range of approximately 55° to approximately 80°, such as in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 75°. Clause 10: Ridge element according to one of clauses 5-9, wherein the angle between the back face of the center portion and the xy plane is in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 70°, such as approximately 65°. Clause 11: Reinforcement layer assembly for a breakwater, comprising: a plurality of horizontal rows of reinforcement elements, a horizontal row of crest elements placed above the top row of the plurality of horizontal rows of reinforcement elements; where each ridge element is a ridge element according to one of clauses 1-10; wherein said armor element comprises a central part, two wings extending from the central part in opposite directions along a longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a tail extending from the central part in a direction backwards towards the breakwater and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and a nose extending from the central part in a direction forwards, opposite to the backwards direction; where the wings of the armor elements of each of said rows are aligned with each other; where the wings of the crest elements of the crest element row are aligned with each other; the noses of the truss members of an upper row of truss members rest on the truss members of a lower row of truss members; and where the tips of the ridge members of the ridge member row rest on the truss members of the upper row of truss members. Clause 12: Assembly in accordance with clause 11, wherein the nose of said a truss member of said a row above truss members rests on two wings of two of said adjacent truss members of said a row below truss members, wherein the wings of said a truss member of said row above truss members rest on the tails of two of said adjacent truss members of the row below truss members, wherein the nose of said a ridge member of the ridge member row rests on two wings of two of said adjacent truss members of the upper row of truss members, and wherein the wings of said a ridge member of the ridge member row rest on the tails of two of said adjacent truss members of the upper row of truss members. Clause 13: Breakwater having at least one sloping side provided with: a row of ridge elements in accordance with one of clauses 1-10, or a set in accordance with one of clauses 11-12. Clause 14: Breakwater according to clause 13, wherein the breakwater further has a top portion, and the crest elements are according to one of clauses 6-10, wherein the row of crest elements is provided below the top portion of the breakwater in such a way as to define an intermediate space between the back faces of the row of crest elements and the breakwater or other construction provided in the breakwater, wherein the intermediate space, when viewed vertically upward and adjacent to the back faces, diverges, and wherein the intermediate space is filled with a filler material which exerts on the back faces a force having a component parallel to the back face and a component transverse to the back face. Clause 15: Breakwater in accordance with clause 13, wherein the breakwater has two opposite oblique sides that join at the top of the breakwater, and the crest elements are in accordance with one of clauses 6-10, wherein the rows of crest elements are arranged at the top of the breakwater in such a way that the back faces of both rows define, when viewed vertically upwards, a diverging intermediate space, and wherein the diverging intermediate space is filled with a filler material that exerts on the back faces a force having a component parallel to the respective back face and a component transverse to the respective back face. Clause 16: Breakwaters in accordance with clause 14 or 15, wherein the fill material comprises fragments of stony material and / or asphalt, such as an asphalt road. Clause 17: Breakwater in accordance with one of clauses 14-16, wherein the angle of the back face of the central part with respect to the horizontal plane is configured in such a way that a line perpendicular to the back face defines an angle with respect to the horizontal plane that is less than the angle of the slope with respect to the horizontal plane. Clause 18: Method for forming crests in a breakwater reinforcement layer, wherein the crest is provided by placing a horizontal row of crest elements in accordance with one of clauses 1-10. Clause 19: Method for providing reinforcement on the oblique side of a breakwater, wherein the oblique side is provided by placing a layer assembly of reinforcement in accordance with one of clauses 11-12 on the oblique side. Clause 20: Method for providing a breakwater, wherein the breakwater provided is a breakwater in accordance with one of clauses 13-17. The terms horizontal, vertical, forward (direction), backward (direction), bottom side, top side, left and right, as used throughout this application, refer to the position of the truss, or respectively, the crest element when in use, placed on the slope of a breakwater. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. Armor layer assembly for a breakwater, comprising: - a plurality of horizontal rows of armor elements, and - a horizontal row of crest elements; wherein each armor element comprises a central portion, two wings extending from the central portion in opposite directions along a longitudinal direction of the breakwater, a tail extending from the central portion in a direction backwards towards the breakwater and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and a nose extending from the central portion in a direction forwards, opposite to the backwards direction; wherein the wings of the armor elements in each of said rows are aligned with each other; wherein the noses of the armor elements of an above row of armor elements are supported on the armor elements of a below row of armor elements;wherein each ridge element comprises: - a central portion, - two wings extending from the central portion in opposite directions along, when placed on a breakwater, the longitudinal direction of the breakwater, and - a nose extending from the central portion in a forward direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the breakwater; wherein the wings of the ridge elements of the ridge element row are aligned with each other; and wherein the horizontal row of ridge elements is placed on top of the upper row of the plurality of horizontal rows of truss elements with the noses of the ridge elements of the ridge element row resting on the upper portion of the truss elements of the upper row of truss elements;characterized in that the rear side of the central part of the ridge elements is a rear face, oriented vertically, facing in a backward direction, opposite to the forward direction.; 2 - Armor layer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear side of the wings of said crest element is a rear face, vertically oriented, which may be at the same level as the rear face of the central part of the respective crest element.

3. Reinforcement layer assembly according to one of claims 1-2, wherein the central part, the two wings and the nose of said crest element are formed as a single part, such as a single part made of concrete.

4. - Armor layer assembly according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the lower face of the central part of said ridge element is a horizontal lower face.

5. Armor layer assembly according to one of claims 1-4, wherein an x-axis is defined by the wing extension direction, a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis is defined by the nose extension direction, and an xy-plane is defined by the plane encompassed by the xy-axis and the y-axis.

6. - Armor layer assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rear face of the central part of said ridge element is inclined with respect to the xy plane, the inclination being, when viewed from the lower side of the ridge element towards the upper part of the ridge element, in the forward direction.

7. - Armor layer assembly according to one of claims 5-6, wherein the angle between the back face of the central part of said ridge element and the xy plane is at most 80°, such as at most 75° or at most 70°.

8. Armor layer assembly according to one of claims 5-7, wherein the angle between the back face of the central part of said ridge element and the xy plane is at least 50°, such as at least 60°.

9. Armor layer assembly according to one of claims 5-8, wherein the angle between the back face of the center portion of said ridge element and the xy plane is in the range of approximately 55° to approximately 80°, such as in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 75°. 10.- Armor layer assembly according to one of claims 5-9, wherein the angle between the back face of the central part of said ridge element and the xy plane is in the range of approximately 60° to approximately 70°, such as approximately 65°.

11. - Armor layer assembly according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the nose of said armor element of said upper row of armor elements rests on two wings of two of said adjacent armor elements of said lower row of armor elements, wherein the wings of said armor element of said upper row of armor elements rest on the tails of two of said adjacent armor elements of the lower row of armor elements, wherein the nose of said ridge element of the ridge row of armor elements rests on the upper part of two wings of two of said adjacent armor elements of the upper row of armor elements, and wherein the wings of said ridge element of the ridge row of armor elements rest on the upper part of the tails of two of said adjacent armor elements of the upper row of armor elements.

12. - Breakwater having at least one oblique side provided with an assembly according to one of claims 1-11.

13. Breakwater according to claim 12, wherein the breakwater further has a top portion, and the assembly is according to any one of claims 6-10, wherein the row of crest elements is provided below the top portion of the breakwater in such a way as to define an intermediate space between the rear faces of the row of crest elements and the breakwater or other construction provided in the breakwater, wherein the intermediate space, when viewed vertically upwards and adjacent to the rear faces of the crest elements, diverges, and wherein the intermediate space is filled with a filler material that exerts on the rear faces of the crest elements a force having a component parallel to the rear face of the crest element and a component transverse to the rear face of the crest element.

14. Breakwater according to claim 12, wherein the breakwater has two opposite oblique sides that join at an upper portion of the breakwater, and the assembly is according to one of claims 6-10, wherein the rows of crest elements are arranged at the top of the breakwater such that the rear faces of both rows of crest elements define, when viewed vertically upwards, a diverging intermediate space, and wherein the diverging intermediate space is filled with a filler material that exerts on the rear faces of the crest elements a force having a component parallel to the respective rear face and a component transverse to the respective rear face. 15.- Breakwater according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the fill material comprises fragments of stony material and / or asphalt, such as an asphalt road.

16. Breakwater according to one of claims 13-15, wherein the angle of the rear face of the central part of the crest elements with respect to the horizontal plane is configured such that a line perpendicular to the rear face of the crest elements defines an angle with respect to the horizontal plane that is less than the angle of the slope with respect to the horizontal plane. 17 - Method for providing reinforcement on the oblique side of a breakwater, wherein the oblique side is provided by placing a reinforcement layer assembly according to one of claims 1-11 on the oblique side.

18. Method for providing a breakwater, wherein the provided breakwater is a breakwater according to one of claims 12-16.

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