Estimating Overwater Friction Velocity and Exponent of Power-Law Wind Profile from Gust Factor during Storms
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 4
Abstract
During storms, the effects of wind loading and drift currents are among the major hazards to offshore structures. In order to objectively determine overwater friction velocity and the exponent of the power-law wind profile, the concept of in-situ gust factor, which reflects the composite effect of air-sea interaction, is employed. During Hurricane Kate in 1985, pertinent meteorological and oceanographic parameters including wind speeds at the standard 10 m height were measured by National Data Buoy Center buoy 42003, located along the hurricane path at 25.88°N and 85.95°W. It is demonstrated that, during this storm, the mechanical turbulence dominates the thermal effect and the exponent of the power-law wind profile is nearly equal to the turbulence intensity in the downwind direction. Relationships among friction velocity, gust factor, and the exponent of the power-law wind profile are also found and provided for engineering applications.
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Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 4 • July 2003
Pages: 174 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 10, 2002
Accepted: Nov 6, 2002
Published online: Jun 13, 2003
Published in print: Jul 2003
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