Changes in the initial parameters of waves caused by distortions in the scale of a hydraulic model

Abstract

Introduction. The distorted scale method is often used to develop physical models of hydraulic structures. Notably, scientific researches concerning the methodology of distortions are quite rare, especially those that are focused on the modeling of wind waves. In the modern practice, scale distortions only affect the underwater topography and hydraulic structures. In this case, initial waves remain unchanged, and this can lead to errors in the wave mode at the control points of a model. Given the data on errors, the author considers the changes in the parameters of initial waves, if the scale of a physical model is distorted.
 Materials and methods. The author used methods of physical and numerical modeling. Experimental studies were conducted in a wave flume and a wave pool that had a wavemaker. In the course of the experiments, the initial wave mode was changed and the parameters of waves were measured at the control points of distorted physical models. Numerical mode­ling was employed to analyze the computational patterns similar to the physical models.
 Results. The author used physical models featuring varying degrees of distortion to obtain a collection of the wave mode data under the conditions of the wave transformation and diffraction. Physical and numerical modeling results are compared. The author provides an assessment of the results attained by changing the parameters of initial waves and distorted physical models.
 Conclusions. The scale distortion triggers changes in the wave mode that may not be easy to control and correct. This fact must be taken into account when distorted hydraulic models are developed. This approach demonstrates varying efficiency if applied to different physical models featuring characteristic processes.