Characteristics of Free Surface Shock Waves around Wedge Models

Abstract

Characteristics of free surface shock waves are experimentally investigated with wedge models, which clarify the ways how the occurrence of free surface shock waves at the bow is ruled by velocity of advance, draft and entrance angle. The variation of shock angle is very similar to that of shock waves in shallow water. Application of nonlinear shallow water theory is attempted by introducing equivalent shallow water depth that connects shock waves in deep water with those in shallow water. The estimations of shock angle and resistance due to free surface shock waves turn out successful for the improvement of hull forms.