WAVE RUN-UP AND OVERTOPPING

Introduction

Reflection of waves against a slope or the breaking of waves on some form of

breakwater leads to water level fluctuations on the slope surface which can considerably
exceed the amplitude of the incident waves. For example, when waves are fully reflected by an
impermeable vertical barrier, the water level fluctuation at the wall is theoretically two times
the height of the incident waves. Hi

When waves break on a slope, a portion of their momentum is transferred to a tongue

of water rushing up the slope. The run-up, R, is defined as the maximum vertical elevation
reached by this tongue measured relative to the still water level - see figure 5.1. It is implied in
this definition that the crest of the slope is higher than the run-up. Since the run-up is
measured relative to the still water level, the run-up, R, also includes effects of wave set-up
caused by the radiation stress

Run-up Determination

When regular waves are considered, a unique relationship exists between the wave run-up, R,
and the wave properties, height and period, and structure characteristics, toe depth, slope angle,
roughness, porosity , and foreshore slope. These parameters are also shown in figure 5.1. Thus:
R = f ( H . , T, h^, a, e, r, n) *