When a ship hits a soil or gravel slope it will create a large transient pore
pressure in the soil which will force the ship bow upwards. At the same time the
pore water will cause ruptures in the soil which influences the lifting forces on the
ship bow. Methods of analysis are presented for the pore water build up, the soils
rupture and the resulting reactions on the ship bow for frictional soils. Soil slopes
with low permeability (sand in connection with a scour protection) generates large
reactions on an impacting ship with the result that the ship will ride up on the
surface of the slope and be brought to a stop by friction . Soil slopes with high
permeabilities as pebbles or quarry run generate smaller reactions, and the ship
will plow itself into the slope. It will then be stopped by a combination of friction
and passive soils pressure. The analytical results are compared with test results
made in a hydraulic laboratory and by full scale testing in nature of a ship sailed
into a beach. Good agreement was found between the theoretical findings and the
test results.