Expected Rate of Irregular Wave Overtopping of Seawalls

Abstract

SYNOPSISThe overtopping rate of seawalls by irregular waves can be estimated as the expected value of overtopping rate with regular wave data weighted with the distribution of wave heights. The calculated rates for several model seawalls are in agreement with the measured rates under the action of irregular waves in laboratory. Diagrams for the estimation of the expected rate of wave overtopping have been prepared for seawalls with vertical faces and those with mounds of artificial concrete blocks. The overtopping rates of many coastal structures which were damaged by waves due to typhoons have been estimated with the above diagrams. The estimation reveals the existence of threshold overtopping rates for damage for respective types of structures.