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Description

Geometry - Volume


Simple Volume Equation

AJs are available with square or round ends on the arms (Figures 1 & 2). All other geometric aspects of square and round end AJs are the same. The volume for square end AJs is well approximated by

V = 3t3L    (square end AJs)

in which V is the volume, t is the arm thickness, and L is the length. The volume for round end AJs is well approximated by

V = 3t3L- 0.6438t3    (round end AJs)

The volume of a round end AJ is approximately 4% less than the corresponding square end unit.

Geometry Definition

The primary dimensions of AJs are characterized by the overall length, L, the arm thickness, t, and the fillet length, f. These are defined in Figure 3. The ratio of the arm thickness to the overall length is the waist ratio, r = t / L. The ratio of the length of the fillet to the thickness of the arm is the fillet ratio, s = f / t.

The use of standard values for the coefficients allows the AJ volume to be fully described by just the length. The standard value for the fillet ratio is s = 1/2. AJs used in open channel applications have a waist ratio r = 1/6.0 or r = 1/6.5. In coastal applications, more robust units are used with r = 1/5.0 or r = 1/5.2.

Complete Volume Equation

A slightly more accurate equation for the volume may be developed which includes the influence of having rounded corners at the junction between the fillet and arm and rounded corners on the ends of the arms.
Square end AJ
Figure 1 Square end AJ


Round end AJs
Figure 2 Round end AJ


AJs geometry definitions
Figure 3 AJ geometry definitions.


The fillets have quarter rounds where they join with the arms. The round corner eliminates the stress concentration which would develop if there was a square corner. The radius of this quarter round is related to the fillet length as pfrL.

There may also be round corners on the ends of the arms of square end AJs. These slightly rounded corners improve the appearance and also eliminate the sharp square corner which is easily chipped. The radii of the rounded ends are proportional to the arm thickness, brL. Note that round end AJs just correspond to the case where b = 1/2.
Including the corner rounds, the volume of both square and round end AJs is given by

V= {3r2 + r3[-2 + 8s2 + (s2p2 - b2)(12 - 3 &pi)]}L3 = aL3

in which a is the volume coefficient.

For a typical square end coastal AJs unit, the geometric coefficients are r= 1/5.2, s = 1/2, b= 1/10, p = 1/4. For these values, the approximate volume equation has an error with respect to the full equation of -0.2%.

For a typical square end river AJs unit, the geometric coefficients are r= 1/6.0, s = 1/2, b= 1/50, p = 1/10. For this case, the approximation has an error of -0.04%. For most applications, the approximate volume equations provide sufficient accuracy.

Standard Length AJs Volumes

Table 1 provides volumes for typical configurations. The waist ratio of r = 1/4 corresponds to “stubby” units. These are typically used for underlayer or repair of armour layers on structures with other types of armour. Waist ratios of r = 1/5 and 1/5.2 are typical coastal units. Waist ratios of r = 1/6 and 1/6.5 are typical river units. The more slender river units are only recommended in the smaller sizes. The web site provides a volume calculation tool which solves the full equation and is applicable to all AJs configurations. It is located at: www.a-jacks.com/Tools/Geometry/Geometry.aspx.

AJs volume as a function of length and waist ratio.
(s=1/2, b=1/10, p=1/4)
 
r = 1/4.0 1/5.0 1/5.2 1/6.0 1/6.5
a = 0.18803 0.12027 0.11119 0.08349 0.07113
 
L(m) V(m3) V(m3) V(m3) V(m3) V(m3)
0.6 0.0406 0.0260 0.0240 0.0180 0.0154
1.0 0.1880 0.1203 0.1112 0.0835 0.0711
1.5 0.6346 0.4059 0.3753 0.2818 0.2401
2.0 1.5042 0.9622 0.8895 0.6679  
2.5 2.9379 1.8792 1.7373    
3.0 5.0768 3.2473 3.0021    
3.5 8.0617 5.1566 4.7671    
4.0 12.0338 7.6973 7.1160    
4.5 17.1341 10.9596 10.1319    
5.0 23.5035 15.0338 13.8984