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![]() Indirect Techniques for Erosion Protection 
The method to be used to construct the dikes may also influence the choice of 
crown width. If land-based equipment is to be used, but the area where a dike is to 
be constructed is underwater or otherwise impassable, specifying a crown wide 
enough for the operation of hauling and handling equipment should be considered, 
since the additional crown width will strengthen the dike as well as expediting 
construction. Whether this is cost effective for a given structure will depend on the 
capabilities of the work force, the cost of stone, and the height of the structure, since 
the additional volume of stone required for a wider crown will increase exponentially 
with the height of the structure. 
(c) 
The slope of natural repose can be specified for side slopes of stone dikes. Providing 
extra stone to launch into any scour hole that may occur adjacent to the structure can 
be accomplished more efficiently by increasing the crown width, as discussed in 
"Structural scour protection" in 8.1.1 above, than by attempting to construct a flatter 
side slope to accomplish the same purpose. Specifying the slope of natural repose 
simplifies construction, because then only the elevation and crown width of a dike 
require control in the latter stages of construction, which is especially advantageous 
if the side slopes of a dike are underwater. For pre-construction estimates of stone 
quantities, the slope of natural repose is commonly assumed to be 1 vertical on 1.5 
horizontal, although some variation can be expected depending on stone gradation, 
construction procedures, and site conditions. 
(d) 
The slope of the riverward end of a stone dike is often designed flatter than the slope 
of natural repose, as discussed in "Structural scour protection" in 8.1.1. 
(e) 
Dikes with a core of earth or other material, with an armor on the surface, are not 
commonly used because they provide a smaller factor of safety against unanticipated 
scour and other severe hydraulic conditions than do sturdier structures. Baird and 
Klumpp (1992) report scour problems with such dikes on the Rio Grande River. A 
filter of some type between the core material and the armor is likely to be required, 
which increases the cost. Also, construction of this type of dike underwater is not 
usually practicable. In spite of these shortcomings, the potential for cost savings may 
be considerable if the cost of stone or other conventional dike materials is very high. 
8.1.4 RETARDS 
The relative advantages and disadvantages of retards were compared to dikes in 
Section 8.1.1. 
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