Repair, Evaluation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Research Program: Methods to Reduce Wave Runup and Overtopping of Existing Structures

Book excerpt: Problems occurring on coastal structures related to wave runup and overtopping are identified and categorized. Three general problem areas include: wave runup and overtopping of breakwaters and jetties causing excessive wave action on the leeside, wave runup and overtopping of seawalls and bulkheads causing either flooding or erosion or both behind the structures, and wave runup and overtopping of revetments jeopardizing the integrity or possibly causing failure of the structure. A number of approaches to reducing wave runup and overtopping of coastal structures is presented. Plans to use laboratory model tests to quantify and refine the most promising approaches are discussed. Keywords: Coastal engineering; Structural engineering; Breakwaters; Revetments; Seawalls; Wave overtopping; Water wave runup. (edc).