Toe and Berm Failure

Symptoms: Cap rotation, movement or cracking, a gap opening between seawall and
dock (if present), and support pilings (if present) tight against the seawall indicating
pressure on the structure from the failure.

Cause: Loss of supporting berm at the bottom of the slabs in the water. The panels tilt
out, and sometimes crack or cause the cap to twist or break. Loss of berm is usually
associated with wave action, either natural or from speeding boats. Insufficient panel
penetration and /or improper placement in the berm may be the cause of such failures as
well.

Remedies: Placement of additional berm, rip-rap or bags of dry concrete mix to stabilize
the bottom of the structure if the toe-out is not too severe. In severe cases, the panels
may be pulled and replaced, or reinserted if not badly damaged. If pilings are present
along the seawall perimeter, dry concrete bags wedged between the piling and the wall
may help.