Attenuation of Nonlinear Waves by Rigid Vegetation: Comparison of Different Wave Theories
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 5
Abstract
This study investigates the performances of theoretical wave attenuation models in predicting vegetation-induced wave decay. The existing theoretical models are all based on linear wave theory, which cannot describe nonlinear waves accurately. This study applies Stokes second-order and cnoidal wave theories to solve the energy balance equation for wave height evolution. Results from a phase-resolving numerical model serve as reference solutions. A total of 30 tests are devised for shallow-intermediate water waves through emergent and submerged vegetation. The differences between theoretical and numerical model results (ϵH) and between linear and nonlinear-based theoretical model results (ΔH) are quantified. The test results show that for wave propagation through emergent vegetation ΔH is ≤6% and ϵH is ≤5%, whereas over submerged vegetation, ϵH reaches as large as 25%. With a 5% tolerance of ϵH, linear-based theoretical models remain valid for emergent cases and submerged cases with a small Ursell number (≤30 in this study). This work has found that the inability of theoretical models to simulate the in-canopy velocity reduction and nonlinear wave-wave triad interactions contributes to the large ϵH in submerged cases.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) (Grants SEES-1427389 and CCF-153956). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. The authors also thank Cody Johnson for proofreading the manuscript. The authors are indebted to three anonymous reviewers for constructive comments and thorough reviews of an earlier version of this paper.
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Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 5 • September 2017
Copyright
© 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 15, 2016
Accepted: Mar 29, 2017
Published online: Jun 16, 2017
Published in print: Sep 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Nov 16, 2017
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