Prediction of Wave Crest and Height Distributions and Wave Groups Using a Numerical Wave Tank

Abstract

A major goal in current model test practice is the correct modeling of the environmental conditions, as they denote the starting point for all further hydrodynamic analyses. As a standard, wave power spectra are calibrated prior to the actual model tests whereas the corresponding wave group spectra follow from the arbitrarily chosen wave seeds and are not being predicted in advance. Wave crest and height distributions can be determined from the measured wave time traces at different reference locations in the basin but they are not calibrated purposely either. In this paper, a numerical wave tank based on a boundary element method is used to predict wave time traces measured in the wave basin. Resulting wave crest and height distributions are compared with theoretical distribution functions and wave measurements in MARIN’s Offshore Basin. Some thoughts on a possible application to the generation of “deterministic wave seeds” conclude the paper.