Wave flume

About: Wave flume is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1627 publications have been published within this topic receiving 23335 citations.

On the Evolution of Different Types of Green Water Events

Abstract: Green water events may present different features in the initial stage of interaction with the deck of a structure. It is therefore important to investigate the evolution of different types of green water, since not all the events interact with the deck at the same time. In this paper, the evolution of three types of green water events (dam-break, plunging-dam-break, and hammer-fist) are studied. The water surface elevations and volumes over the deck in consecutive green water events, generated by incident [wave trains in a wave flume, were analyzed using image-based methods. The results show multiple-valued water surface elevations in the early stage of plunging-dam-break and hammer-fist type events. Detailed experimental measurements of this stage are shown for the first time. The effect of wave steepness on the duration of the events, maximum freeboard exceedance, and volumes were also investigated. Although the hammer-fist type showed high freeboard exceedances, the plunging-dam-break type presented the largest volumes over the deck. Some challenges for further assessments of green water propagation are reported.

Hydraulic Performance of Xbloc+ Armor Unit

Abstract: In recent years, the use of Xbloc units has increased exponentially. However, the placement of this unit is not always done as randomly as it should be and consequently, the stability of the armor is affected. In order to overcome this problem, Delta Marine Consultants is developing a new armor unit called Xbloc+ that has a regular placement. In this research, the hydraulic performance of version 1 and 2 of this block are analyzed. Small scale tests were performed in a 2D wave flume in order to analyze the damage, rocking and the (partially and fully) displacement of units. In total, 1 series of tests were performed with Xbloc+v1 and 6 series with Xbloc+v2. To analyze the influence of the wave steepness and the slope angle, three wave steepness were tested (Sop = 2%, 4% and 6%) and tests were conducted in two different slope angles (1:2 and 3:4). Each series is formed by several sub tests conducted with increasing wave heights (and wave period in order to maintain a constant wave steepness). Tests were carried out until the failure of the armor slope was reached in order to completely define the failure mechanism. Furthermore, tests after failure where also executed to further investigate the stability of the armor after the damage has started. Results obtained from the laboratory tests provided an overall understanding of how the Xbloc+ performs under certain conditions. It was perceived that the permeability of the armor layer is low as it happens often with single layer units. Thus, the pressure gradient between the underlayer and armor layer is significantly high creating an uplift pressure that leads to a revetment-like failure mechanism. Although the failure mechanism can be related to both slopes used during the laboratory tests, (3:4 and 1:2), the behavior of the armor layer differed completely between slopes. On a steeper slope, the armor layer remained undamaged for wave heights significantly higher than the design wave. However, once one unit was fully displaced, the damage was quite destructive. In contrast, on a milder slope, failure occurred much faster but the damage was not as aggressive. Moreover, after the failure was reached, the structure gained a new level of stability in which remained to provide shelter without reflecting significant damage. Furthermore, the wave height variation did not have much influence as the wave steepness. There was a noticeable difference between the performance of the structure during swell and wind waves. During swell waves, it could be seen that not only failure was achieved faster but it caused much more damage to the structure, while during wind waves the structure had a higher stability.

Modelling of wave transmission through a pneumatic breakwater

Abstract: A theoretical approach is derived to study interaction of linear water waves with an air bubble curtain used as a pneumatic breakwater. Modelling of wave transmission through an aerial barrier is a complex task due to a need to cover processes associated with wave-current interaction, effects of two-phase flows, wave damping, etc.. An initial boundary-value problem is solved by applying an efficient eigenfunction expansion method and a time-stepping procedure. The derived semi-analytical solution is used to study the effect of basic parameters of the model on wave dissipative properties of the pneumatic breakwater. Results show that wave damping by the breakwater is mainly affected by an air flow rate. The increased air discharge results in higher velocities of ascending bubbles and increases aerial barrier width. This leads to a substantial reduction of transmitted wave heights, especially for waves of intermediate length and short waves. In order to verify the applicability of the presented theoretical approach, laboratory experiments are conducted in a wave flume for different wave regimes and pneumatic breakwater characteristics. The analysis of a wave transmission coefficient calculated numerically and measured in the laboratory confirms that the derived model can be used for a certain range of wave conditions.

Field Observations of Wave Pressure, Wave Run-Up, and Oscillation of Breakwater

Abstract: When a strong progressive wave collide against a shore structure, run-up and reflection of the wave take place on the front surface of the structure. At the same time, the structure is subjected to wave pressure resulting its oscillation or sometimes its sliding when the wave pressure is very large. Studies concerning such wave phenomena related to structures have been conducted by numerous scientists and engineers in many laboratories. While only a few investigations in the field have been made on these phenomena. At the same time it is noted that very few investigations have been carried out on the oscillation of breakwater caused by wave forces. The author performed some field observations on the wave pressure, wave run-up, and oscillation of breakwater at Haboro Harbor m Hokkaido, Japan, from 1957 to i960 (Refs. 1,2 and 3). In this paper the main results obtained from these observations such as the frequency of occurrence of shock pressure, the relationships among the run-up height, wave pressure and incident wave height, and the rocking phenomenon of the breakwater caused by wave pressure are summarized.