Numerical Modeling of Wave Absorbers for Physical Wave Tanks
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 1
Abstract
A 3D numerical solution was derived to determine the wave field in a physical wave tank equipped with a porous wave absorber of variable width and draft. The solution was achieved by applying the boundary element method. The model was applied to analyze the effect of the geometry and material of wave absorbers on wave reflection to eventually equip a wave tank with a proper wave absorber. The results show that absorber geometry has a complex, often surprising and nonintuitive effect on wave reflection. A more pronounced effect on wave reflection possesses physical and hydraulic properties of the material used to build a wave absorber. A reduction of wave reflection can usually be achieved by increasing absorber length and simultaneously decreasing its slope, and often a reduction of wave reflection can be achieved by increasing absorber draft or width. Moreover, a reduction of wave reflection, often substantial, can be achieved by increasing porosity and the damping coefficient. The results and additional analysis show that a reasonable wave reflection level can already be achieved for fairly short absorbers, and the model can be applied to select an optimal wave absorber for any prespecified conditions. Theoretical results are in reasonable agreement with experimental data.
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Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 1 • January 2003
Pages: 5 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 6, 2001
Accepted: Jun 11, 2002
Published online: Dec 13, 2002
Published in print: Jan 2003
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