PREFACE 



This report presents procedures developed by Goda (1975) for esti- 

 mating nearshore significant wave heights for irregular wave conditions, 

 using known offshore (deepwater) wave conditions and the nearshore bot- 

 tom slope. Goda's methods represent an important increase in the engi- 

 neering community's ability to predict waves propagating into shallow*' 

 water. The method is based on a number of simplifications and empirical 

 adjustments but appears to represent laboratory and limited field data 

 reasonably well. It is suggested that the method be used; however, the 

 results should be carefully evaluated to confirm that the method is not 

 used outside of its range of applicability. 



Procedures for predicting design wave conditions for irregular waves 

 are not discussed in the Shore Protection Manual (SPM) (U.S. Army, Corps 

 of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, 1977). The selection 

 of design waves in the SPM (Section 7.12) is based on monochromatic wave 

 theories. This work was carried out under the offshore breakwaters for 

 shore stabilization program of the U.S. Army Coastal Engineering Research 

 Center (CERC) . 



This report was prepared by William N. Seelig, Hydraulic Engineer, 

 under the general supervision of Dr. R.M. Sorensen, Chief, Coastal 

 Structures Branch. 



Comments on this publication are invited. 



Approved for publication in accordance with Public Law 1966, 79th 

 Congress, approved 31 July 1945, as supplemented by Public Law 1972, 

 88th Congress, approved 7 November 1963. 



TED E. 



Colonel, Corps of Engineers 



Commander and Director 



