Abstract: Tsunami has become one of the most serious marine disasters. The devastating tsunami waves can mobilize substantial amount of coastal sediment and change the coastal morphology considerably. 2D laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the changes of cross-shore beach profile under the wave action. The initial 1/10-1/20 composite beach slope was respectively exposed to the N-waves, regular waves and irregular waves in three water depths. The free surface elevations, processes of wave uprush, back wash and run-down jump, the change of cross-shore beach profile were measured and recorded. The study showed that the beach profile evolution was different under the action of N-waves, regular waves and irregular wave because of the different hydrodynamic characteristics. Erosion took place in the beach berm by sheet flow when the wave washed back. The seepage force contributed to incipient sediment motion. The deposition took place in the deeper region as the carrying capacity of sediment decreased in the offshore region where the run-down jumps happened. The beach profile was bar type.