Samenvatting

XblocPlus is a single layer armour unit developed by BAM Infra Consult. The XblocPlus is the successor
of the Xbloc and one of the main changes is that it is placed in a uniform pattern. Most of its hydraulic
stability comes from the interlocking that the XblocPlus does. XblocPlus consists entirely of concrete.
Animals and plants find it difficult to settle on concrete because of its slippery surface. XblocPlus has a
water-retaining function and will be used by people on many constructed coasts and breakwaters. By
removing nature here and replacing it with concrete blocks, the flora and fauna in these areas will be
lost. It is necessary to find a solution where water can be turned without losing the flora and fauna so
that existing ecosystems can continue to exist and biodiversity is not affected. This research will
therefore examine the smart ecological applications to stimulate flora and fauna in the tidal zones without
the XblocPlus losing its stability and function. Because the installation of profiles and constructions only
makes a positive contribution to stimulating flora and fauna in the tidal area in the first two years after
installation, it was decided not to investigate this further. Tide pools create microclimates that stimulate
flora and fauna, therefore this study only discusses the stimulation of flora and fauna through the
construction of tidal pools. Research will be done into the different climates and which adjustments
within those climates will have the most positive influence. In each climate, different adaptations are
important for stimulating the flora and fauna. For example, it is important for a tropical and dry climate
that the pools can provide shade. This way the water stays cooler, and salinity can be avoided. For the
temperate climate it is important that the pool is as large as possible and that it has varying shapes, this
provides more complexity and more species.
Based on the knowledge gained from the literature study, five unique designs were made. Two designs
prioritized block stability and retained a hole. Ecology was paramount in the other three designs, so
there are no holes in these blocks to reduce the water pressure from below. Different climates have also
been taken into account when making the designs, for example, for the temperate climate, care has
been taken that the tidal pool is as large and complex as possible, while shade has also been added for
dry climates. These were scaled to a scale of 1:54 and then tested in the wave flume of BAM Infra
Consult. These tests have been carried out to see whether, when the flora and fauna are stimulated,
the requirements based on the hydraulic stability are also met. Finally, the designs were assessed on
the basis of their hydraulic stability and ecological benefit, and the conclusion stated which design best
meets the main question.
The results of the research can be summarized as:
- Alternatives 1 and 3 have the most positive ecological impact.
- All alternatives remain stable during testing. This ensures that the alternatives with the greatest
ecological impact can be chosen.
- The hole in the XblocPlus can be removed for the EcoblocPlus to create larger tide pools.
Adjustments as with alternative 5 turned out not to be feasible because making them turned out
to be too difficult.