Riprap Calculator

Units: ft=foot, knots=nautical miles per hour, m=meter, mph=miles per hour.

Riprap in a River

riprap photo

Riprap Calculator

Riprap is used for erosion control, to prevent scour, and to minimize sediment transport in rivers and streams. A stable riprap rock size is desired. The Isbash equation computes the smallest diameter stone D having specific gravity S that if dropped in water flowing at velocity V will settle and remain stationary on the channel bed (Blevins, 2003, p. 218; NCHRP, 2006, p. 14).

riprap equation

The riprap calculator will also solve the equation in reverse. In that case, riprap rock size D is entered. The computed water velocity V is the maximum water velocity at which the riprap will remain in place.

The variables in the riprap calculator are (units shown in SI, but our calculation allows a variety of units):
C = Isbash constant. Per references below, C=0.86 for highly turbulent conditions or C=1.2 for low turbulence.
D = Median diameter of spherical stone or rock. Also known as D₅₀ (m).
g = Acceleration due to gravity, 9.8066 m/s².
S = Specific gravity of stone or rock. Typically varies from 2.56 to 2.92 depending on the rock material. A commonly used value is 2.65.
V = Water velocity approaching the riprap (m/s).

References

Blevins, Robert D. 2003. Applied Fluid Dynamics Handbook. Krieger Publishing Co.

National Cooperative Highway Research Program [NCHRP]. 2006. Riprap Design Criteria, Recommended Specifications, and Quality Control. Report 568. Transportation Research Board. Retrieved from http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_568.pdf

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Water velocity, V:
Rock diameter, D:
Isbash constant, C:		Enter 0.86 or 1.2. See below
Rock specific gravity, S:		Typically 2.65. See below
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