Ffl'ograiii Desciipiioii 



102R-41CV Linear Wave Approximation to Breaking Wave Height and 

 Program Title Breaking Wave Angle (RPN Logic) 



Name T.L. Walton, Jr. Date 1/82 



Address Coastal Engineerinp Research Center 



Kingman Building State ,, . . . Zip Code „„^,„ 

 ' Fort Belvoir , Virg.inia 22060 



Program Description, Equations, Variables, etc. 



This program calculates breaking wave height, H^, and breaking wave angle, 

 a^, using linear wave theory approximations combined with the shallow-water 

 breaking assumption. Input parameters are wave height, H, wave period, T, 

 wave angle, a, and the water depth, d, where the preceding three variables 

 are measured. An additional input parameter is nearshore beach slope, m. 

 The ratio of the breaking wave height to the water depth at breaking is pre- 

 dicted using the equation 



Hb/db = ^-^iv^) 



from Singamsetti and VJind (1980), where d^ is the water depth at breaking, B.'^ 

 the deepwater wave height, and Lq the deepwater wavelength. This solution 

 requires the assumption of straight and parallel offshore bottom contours for 

 the application of Snell's law of refraction. Input wave parameters H, T, 

 and a can be in any depth of water, d. Algorithm uses English or metric sys 

 tem of units. The development of the equation is derived on the attached 



solution sheet, 



REFERENCES 



SINGAMSETTI, S.R., and WIND, H.G., "Characteristics of Shoaling and Breaking 

 Periodic Waves Normally Incident to Plane Beaches of Constant Slope," 

 Report No. M1371, Toegepast Onberzoek Waterstaat, July 1980. 



U.S. ARMY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, COASTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER, Shore 

 Protection Manual, 3d ed.. Vol. I, Ch. 2, Stock No. 008-022-00113-1, 

 U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1977. 



Operating Limits and Warnings 



102R-41CV-1 



