RUNUP ON COASTAL REVETMENTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ONSHORE WIND

Height of maximum wave runup on coastal structures is typically calcul ated directly or indirectly from small-scale physical model tests. The se tests are conducted in the absence of wind, although strong onshore winds are typically associated with design storms. To study the effec ts of onshore winds on runup elevations, a series of physical model te sts has been conducted in a combined wind/wave flume at Texas A&M Univ ersity. Low wind speeds were seen to have little effect on runup eleva tions, but higher wind speeds significantly increased runup elevations on both smooth and rough slopes. Wind effects were greater on steep s lopes than on shallow slopes, and greater on smooth slopes than on rou gh slopes. Various mechanisms by which wind may affect runup are discu ssed.