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IS 10398 : 1982Guidelines for Determination of Design Waves in Coastal Waters

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EM 1110-2 · CIRIA C683 · ISO 19901-1
CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesWater Resources · Coastal and Marine Engineering
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OverviewValues5InternationalTablesFAQ4

IS 10398:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for guidelines for determination of design waves in coastal waters. This standard provides guidelines for determining the characteristics of design waves, such as significant wave height and peak period, for the design of coastal and marine structures. It covers empirical wave forecasting methods based on wind data (like SMB) and the statistical analysis of measured wave records to establish design conditions.

Provides methods and guidelines for determining design wave parameters for coastal and marine engineering projects.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Water Resources — Coastal and Marine Engineering
Type
Guidelines
International equivalents
EM 1110-2-1100 · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), USACIRIA C683 · CIRIA, UK / CUR, Netherlands / CETMEF, FranceISO 19901-1:2015 · International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
Also on InfraLens for IS 10398
5Key values2Tables4FAQs
Practical Notes
! The wave forecasting methods (SMB, PNJ) presented are empirical and now largely superseded by numerical models (e.g., SWAN, MIKE) for detailed design, but remain useful for preliminary estimates.
! The code focuses on wind-generated waves and does not cover wave generation from other events like tsunamis or landslides.
! Accurate determination of wind speed (U), fetch length (F), and wind duration (t) is critical for the reliability of the forecasting methods.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 4Wave ForecastingCl. 4.3Sverdrup-Munk-Bretschneider (SMB) MethodCl. 5Statistical Analysis of Wave DataCl. 6Wave Transformation
Pulled from IS 10398:1982. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
SPM 1984U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), USA
HighWithdrawn
Shore Protection Manual
Provides foundational methods for wave forecasting and hindcasting, including the SMB method, for coastal protection design.
EM 1110-2-1100U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), USA
HighCurrent
Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM)
The definitive modern guide for determining design wave conditions and other physical data for coastal projects.
CIRIA C683CIRIA, UK / CUR, Netherlands / CETMEF, France
MediumCurrent
The Rock Manual: The use of rock in hydraulic engineering (2nd Edition)
Includes comprehensive chapters on determining design wave parameters as a prerequisite for designing coastal structures.
ISO 19901-1:2015International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
MediumCurrent
Petroleum and natural gas industries — Specific requirements for offshore structures — Part 1: Metocean design and operating considerations
Specifies requirements for determining metocean conditions, including design waves, with a focus on offshore structures.
Key Differences
≠IS 10398 relies on dated empirical hindcasting methods like Sverdrup-Munk-Bretschneider (SMB), often applied manually with nomograms, whereas modern standards (e.g., USACE CEM) mandate the use of sophisticated third-generation numerical wave models (e.g., SWAN, WAVEWATCH III).
≠The Indian standard focuses on defining the sea state with singular parameters like significant wave height (Hs) and period (Tz). International standards like ISO 19901-1 require the use of wave energy spectra (e.g., JONSWAP, Pierson-Moskowitz) for a more complete description of wave conditions.
≠IS 10398's guidance is based on analyzing relatively sparse data sources like ship reports and meteorological records. Modern standards integrate vast, long-term datasets from satellite altimetry, wave buoys, and global reanalysis hindcast models (e.g., ERA5).
≠Modern international codes emphasize probabilistic and risk-based design, including the joint probability of waves, currents, and water levels. IS 10398 follows a more deterministic approach, considering parameters largely in isolation.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 10398 and international standards are founded on the same core concept: defining a design wave or sea state based on a specific return period (e.g., 50 or 100 years) for designing resilient coastal structures.
≈The fundamental principles of wave transformation from deep to shallow water, including the processes of shoaling and refraction, are common to both the Indian standard and its international counterparts, even if the calculation methods differ in complexity.
≈All standards utilize statistical methods for long-term wave analysis. The use of extreme value distributions (like Gumbel or Weibull) to extrapolate from available data to predict extreme wave heights for a given return period is a shared technique.
≈The assumption of a Rayleigh distribution for individual wave heights within a short-term, stationary sea state is a common starting point in both IS 10398 and many international guidelines for initial analysis.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Primary Hindcasting TechniqueSverdrup-Munk-Bretschneider (SMB) method, using wind speed, duration, and fetch length.Calibrated numerical spectral wave models (e.g., SWAN, STWAVE).USACE CEM
Representation of Sea StateSignificant wave height (Hs) and significant period (Ts) or zero-crossing period (Tz).Full wave energy density spectrum (e.g., JONSWAP) defined by Hs, peak period (Tp), and other spectral parameters.ISO 19901-1:2015
Short-Term Wave Height DistributionAssumes Rayleigh distribution.Rayleigh distribution is standard, but recommends alternatives like Forristall distribution in shallow water or for steep waves.CIRIA C683
Wave Breaking CriteriaProvides a simple depth-limited breaking criterion (e.g., Hb = 0.78d).Uses more complex formulations that account for wave period and beach slope (e.g., Miche-Rundgren, Goda).USACE CEM
Data for Long-Term StatisticsWind records from meteorological stations and visual ship observations.Long-term (30+ years) buoy data, satellite altimetry, and numerical hindcast databases.USACE CEM
Directional SpreadingGenerally treats waves as long-crested and unidirectional.Requires consideration of directional spreading of wave energy, typically using a cosine-power function.ISO 19901-1:2015
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values5

Quick Reference Values
Significant wave height (Hs) definitionAverage of the highest one-third (33.3%) of waves in a record
Relationship between Hmax and Hs (approx)Hmax ≈ 1.8 * Hs
Relationship between H(1/10) and HsH(1/10) ≈ 1.27 * Hs
Typical design return period for major structures50 to 100 years
Deep water condition definitionWater depth (d) > L/2, where L is wavelength
Key Formulas
gH / Ua^2 = f(gF / Ua^2) — Functional form of SMB method for fetch-limited wave height.
gT / (2π Ua) = f(gF / Ua^2) — Functional form of SMB method for fetch-limited wave period.
C0 = gT / (2π) = 1.56 T^2 — Deep water wave celerity (speed) in m/s.
L0 = gT^2 / (2π) = 1.56 T^2 — Deep water wavelength in meters.

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table A.1 - Dimensionless Wave Parameters for Fetch-Limited Conditions (Deep Water)
Table B.1 - Dimensionless Wave Parameters for Duration-Limited Conditions (Deep Water)
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Wave Forecasting
Clause 4.3 - Sverdrup-Munk-Bretschneider (SMB) Method
Clause 5 - Statistical Analysis of Wave Data
Clause 6 - Wave Transformation

Frequently Asked Questions4

What is a design wave?+
A hypothetical wave defined by its characteristics (height, period, direction) used for designing a structure to withstand specific sea conditions associated with a certain return period (e.g., 1 in 100 years).
What is the SMB method?+
The Sverdrup-Munk-Bretschneider (SMB) method is an empirical technique detailed in Clause 4.3 for predicting wave height and period based on wind speed, fetch length, and wind duration.
How do I choose between a fetch-limited or duration-limited condition?+
It is a fetch-limited condition if the wind blows for a long enough time over a given fetch. It is duration-limited if the wind stops or changes before the waves have had time to fully develop over that fetch. The one that results in smaller wave parameters governs the design.
Does this code apply to shallow water?+
The primary forecasting methods are for deep water. Clause 6 provides guidance on wave transformation, which is the process of modifying deep-water wave parameters to account for shallow water effects like shoaling, refraction, and diffraction.

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