Rip rap (Rock armour)

Cards (5)

  • What is rip rap (rock armour)?
    Large rocks placed at the foot of a cliff, or at the top of a beach. It forms a permeable barrier to the sea - breaking up the waves, but allowing some water to pass through.
  • What are some advantages of rock armour?
    Some advantages of rock armour are:
    • It is relatively cheap and easy to construct and maintain
    • It's often used for fishing from or for sunbathing by tourists
  • What are some disadvantages of rock armour?
    Some disadvantages of rock armour are:
    • The rocks are usually from somewhere else, so they don't fit in with the local geology and can look out of place
    • The rocks can be dangerous for people climbing on them
  • What is the cost of rock armour?
    £100,000 to £300,000 for 100 metres.
  • What is an example of a place where rock armour is used?
    Hornsea and Mappleton