Wave Run-up

Lesson Outcomes
to describe the influence of wave runup on the design of coastal
and offshore structures.
to calculate the wave runup on various slope conditions.
 Wave Runup
Limit of wave runup

SWL R

ds

After a wave breaks, a portion of the remaining energy will energize

a bore that will run up the face of a beach.
Runup is the maximum elevation of wave uprush above the still-
water level.
Wave Runup
 Wave Runup
Wave uprush consists of two components:
(1) Super-elevation of the mean water level due to wave action
(setup), and
(2) Fluctuations about the mean water level (swash).

The upper limit of runup is an important parameter for

determining the active portion of the beach profile.

At present, theoretical approaches for calculating runup on

beaches are not viable for coastal design due to difficulties
inherent in runup prediction include nonlinear wave
transformation, wave reflection, three dimensional effects
(bathymetry), porosity, roughness, permeability, and groundwater
elevation.
 Applications
1. To determine the required crest elevation for a sloping coastal
structure

R Crest
elevation

2. To establish a beach setback line for limiting coastal construction

Setback
line
Dimensional Analysis for Runup
R Ho ' ds
f ,
2
,
Ho ' gT H o '

Relative Surface slope Wave Relative

runup Steepness depth
cot =1/m

Other affecting Roughness of Permeability of

parameters: the slope face the slope face
 Dimensionless Runup on Smooth Impermeable Slope vs.
(i) Bottom Slope and (ii) Incident Deep Water Wave Steepness

R/Ho 1 < ds/Ho < 3 For a given slope, steeper waves have lower
relative runup.

For most beaches and revetment slopes, the

wave runup increases as the slope becomes
x Low steepness
steeper.
Ho /gT2
High steepness
Smooth
Impermeable R = x Ho
Steep slope cot Mild slope Slope

For other slope conditions use runup factor (r)

R = x Ho r
 Dimensionless Runup on Smooth Impermeable Slope vs.
(i) Bottom Slope and (ii) Incident Deep Water Wave Steepness
For a given slope, steeper waves
have lower relative runup.
1 < ds/Ho < 3 Wave runup increases as the
slope becomes steeper.

Low Smooth
steepness Impermeable R = x Ho
Slope

For other slope conditions, use

runup factor (r)

High steepness R = x Ho r

Steep slope Mild slope

Runup Factors for Various Slope Conditions
 Problem
A wave in water 100 m deep has a period of 10 s and a height of
2 m, propagating toward the shore without refracting. The wave
breaks and runs up on a 1:10 grass covered slope having a toe
depth of 4 m. Determine:

(i) the breaking wave height, and

(ii) the wave runup elevation on the grass-covered slope.
 Solution
Determination of breaker height, Hb
Ho/gT2 = 2/ [9.81 x 100] = 0.0020
m = 0.1
Hb/Ho = 1.6
Hb = 1.6 x 2 = 3.2 m (plunging breaker)

Determination of wave runup, R

ds/Ho = 4/2 = 2 1 < ds/Ho < 3
cot = 10
R/Ho = 0.95
The uncorrected smooth slope runup: R = 0.95 (2) = 1.9 m
The corrected grass-covered slope runup : R = 0.875 (1.9) = 1.66 m