Scouring depths in front of coastal structures induced by waves can be evaluated by many methods. For example, an empirical equation of Fowler [1] can evaluate the maximum scour depth induced by irregular waves in front of a vertical seawall. There are numerical models to simulate scour; for example, Ca et al. [2] proposed a numerical model that can reproduce scouring depths induced by waves.
References
[1] Fowler, J.E. (1992). “Scour Problems and Methods for Prediction of Maximum Scour at Vertical Seawall,” Technical Report, CERC-92-16; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Vickberg, MS, USA, 1992.
[2] Ca, V.T.; Yamamoto, Y.; Tanimoto, K.; and Arimura, J. (2002). “Simulation of Wave Dynamics and Scouring Near Coastal Structures by a Numerical Model,” Coastal Engineering 2002, pp. 1817–1829, doi:10.1142/9789812791306_0153.