Geometric characteristics of storm-beach profiles caused by inclined waves

A theoretical analysis shows that the geometric characteristics of a storm-beach profile is governed by a modified Iribarren number which includes the effects among the factors of beach slope, breaking wave angle and wave steepness. A series of experiments have been conducted in a three-dimensional movable bed model on the conditions of two different beach slopes and two incident wave angles as well as several erosive wave steepnesses. Based on the experimental data, the relative importance of each factor involved in the parameter is discussed. The empirical relationships between the geometric characteristics of a storm-beach profile and the modified Iribarren number are proposed through regression analysis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.