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IS 6120 : 1971Criteria for Wave Loads on Maritime Structures

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DNV-RP-C205 · BS 6349-1-1 · USACE Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM)
CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesWater Resources · Coastal and Marine Engineering
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OverviewInternationalTablesFAQ4

IS 6120:1971 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for criteria for wave loads on maritime structures. This standard provides criteria and methods for calculating wave loads on various types of maritime structures. It covers the classification of waves and details procedures for determining wave pressure and forces on vertical walls, breakwaters, and cylindrical piles.

Lays down the criteria for calculating wave loads on various types of maritime structures.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Water Resources — Coastal and Marine Engineering
Type
Guidelines
International equivalents
DNV-RP-C205:2021 · Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Norway/GlobalBS 6349-1-1:2013 · British Standards Institution (BSI), United KingdomUSACE Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM) · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USA
Practical Notes
! This is a foundational but dated code. Modern designs often supplement these empirical formulas with advanced numerical modeling (e.g., Boussinesq, CFD) for complex cases.
! The selection of the appropriate formula (e.g., Sainflou vs. Minikin) is critical and depends on the wave conditions (breaking or non-breaking) at the structure's location.
! The code requires detailed site-specific hydrographic data (bathymetry, design wave height, period, and direction) as primary input for the calculations.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 4Classification of WavesCl. 5Wave Pressure on Vertical WallsCl. 6Wave Pressure on Composite-type BreakwatersCl. 7Wave Forces on Piles and other Cylindrical StructuresCl. 8Wave Run-up and Overtopping of Structures
Pulled from IS 6120:1971. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
DNV-RP-C205:2021Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Norway/Global
MediumCurrent
Environmental Conditions and Environmental Loads
Both provide methodologies for calculating wave loads on marine and offshore structures.
BS 6349-1-1:2013British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Maritime works. General. Code of practice for planning and design
Both offer guidance on assessing wave climate and calculating wave forces for designing maritime structures.
USACE Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM)U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USA
HighCurrent
EM 1110-2-1100, Coastal Engineering Manual
Both provide comprehensive procedures for wave mechanics and wave load calculations on coastal structures.
ISO 21650:2007International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
HighWithdrawn
Actions from waves and currents on coastal structures
Directly addresses the same subject matter: determining actions from waves and currents on coastal structures.
Key Differences
≠IS 6120:1971 is based on a deterministic 'design wave' approach using regular wave theories (e.g., Airy). Modern standards like DNV-RP-C205 mandate a spectral approach for irregular seas, providing a more realistic representation of the ocean environment.
≠The Indian standard provides simplified, constant force coefficients (Cd, Cm) for Morison's equation. International standards specify that these coefficients vary significantly with the Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) number, Reynolds number, and surface roughness.
≠IS 6120:1971 has minimal to no guidance on dynamic amplification or fatigue analysis. Modern codes like the CEM and DNV-RP-C205 have extensive sections on structural dynamics, including analysis of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV), which is critical for slender, flexible structures.
≠Modern standards provide detailed guidance for selecting the appropriate wave theory (e.g., using the Le Méhauté diagram in the CEM), whereas IS 6120 offers very basic criteria. This affects the accuracy of wave kinematics and resulting forces, especially in shallow and intermediate water depths.
≠For calculating wave forces on vertical walls (breakwaters), IS 6120 likely relies on older methods like Minikin's formula, which is known to be overly conservative. BS 6349 and the CEM recommend the more refined Goda's formula, which better distinguishes between breaking and non-breaking wave pressures.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental use of Morison's equation, which combines drag and inertia force components, to calculate wave loads on slender members (like piles and jacket legs) is a core principle in both IS 6120 and modern international standards.
≈All standards recognize the use of basic physical parameters like wave height (H), wave period (T), and water depth (d) as the primary inputs for wave load calculations.
≈There is a common conceptual division of structures into 'slender' members (where Morison's equation is applicable) and 'large-volume' structures (where wave diffraction and reflection are dominant and must be considered).
≈Both the Indian standard and international equivalents address wave forces on vertical and rubble-mound breakwaters, acknowledging the different physical processes involved (e.g., reflection, breaking wave impact, run-up).
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Wave Theory ApplicationSimple criteria based on water depth, likely suggesting Airy or Stokes' second order theory.Prescribes specific theories (Stream Function, Cnoidal, etc.) based on dimensionless parameters d/L and H/L (or a Le Méhauté diagram).USACE CEM
Inertia Coefficient (Cm) for circular pileTypically a single recommended value, e.g., 2.0.Varies with Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) number and roughness; typically in the range of 1.2 to 2.0.DNV-RP-C205
Drag Coefficient (Cd) for circular pileTypically a single recommended value, e.g., 1.2 for rough piles.Varies with KC number, Reynolds number, and roughness; typically in the range of 0.6 to 1.2.DNV-RP-C205
Design Sea StateDeterministic regular wave of a specific height (H) and period (T).Stochastic approach using a wave energy spectrum (e.g., JONSWAP) defined by significant wave height (Hs) and peak period (Tp) for a given storm duration.DNV-RP-C205
Force on Vertical BreakwaterLikely based on older empirical methods like the Sainflou or Minikin formula.Recommends Goda's formula for non-breaking and breaking wave pressures, which provides a more detailed pressure distribution.BS 6349-1-1
Dynamic AnalysisNot explicitly covered; analysis is static.Required if the structure's natural period is close to the wave period. Methods for calculating Dynamic Amplification Factor (DAF) are provided.DNV-RP-C205
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values0

No quick reference values available for this code yet.
Key Formulas
Sainflou's formula — For wave pressure from non-breaking or reflected waves on a vertical wall
Minikin's method — For shock pressure from breaking waves on a vertical wall
Morison's equation principle — For calculating drag and inertia forces on cylindrical piles

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Classification of Waves
Clause 5 - Wave Pressure on Vertical Walls
Clause 6 - Wave Pressure on Composite-type Breakwaters
Clause 7 - Wave Forces on Piles and other Cylindrical Structures
Clause 8 - Wave Run-up and Overtopping of Structures

Frequently Asked Questions4

What kind of structures does this code apply to?+
It applies to maritime structures such as breakwaters, seawalls, jetties, piers, and piles exposed to wave action.
What methods are given for calculating pressure on a vertical wall?+
The code provides Sainflou's formula for non-breaking waves and Minikin's method for the impact pressure of breaking waves (Clause 5).
How are forces on piles or slender cylinders calculated?+
Forces on piles are calculated based on the principles of the Morison equation, which combines drag and inertia force components (Clause 7).
Does this code consider wave overtopping?+
Yes, Clause 8 provides guidance and formulae for estimating the quantity of wave overtopping for different types of coastal structures.

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