Determination of particle paths and hydrodynamic forces of random wind forced nonlinear ocean waves

Abstract

The hydrodynamic forces of nonlinear deep water gravity waves acting on cylindrical offshore structures are studied. Thereby, the waves are excited by random wind and the corresponding effect on the particle paths and hydrodynamic forces is investigated. This is done for the Peregrine breather solution of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which is nowadays considered as a prototype of extreme waves in open seas. Using this theory, the loads on mechanical structures can be calculated efficiently. It is shown that the Peregrine breather can exist under strong and gusty wind conditions and the water particles experience a horizontal drift. This leads to a force with randomly increasing amplitude in time, whereby a mean wind velocity of 50 km/h results in an increase of about 3%. The increase of hydrodynamic forces caused by the wind should therefore be considered for the construction of mechanical structures operating in the ocean.