Wave Runup on Composite-Slope and Concave Beaches

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were carried out for regular and irregular wave runup over non-uniform beach profiles, including both bi-linear and concave "equilibrium" beach profiles. Measured runup is shown to be substantially less than that predicted by the Hunt Formula if the exposed beach-face slope is used to define the typical beach slope. More accurate runup estimates are obtained using Saville's hypothetical slope concept; and, Saville's method is integrated with the Hunt Formula to provide simple analytical estimates of wave runup over complex beach topography.