Spatial distribution models of horizontal and vertical wave impact pressure on the elevated box structure

Abstract

The extreme wave impact is among the most severe loads the elevated box structure can suffer. This paper illustrated the spatial distribution of wave impact pressure on the elevated box structure with a rectangular cross-section. An existing wave flume experiment for an elevated box structure was reproduced numerically. The wave impact pressure on the front and bottom face of the elevated box structure was simulated and used as the dataset to investigate the horizontal and vertical impact pressure distribution. The spatial distribution of horizontal impact pressure on the front face was proposed as a piecewise empirical model of structural height, clearance height, and wave height. The spatial distribution of vertical impact pressure was developed by a joint probability model of the maximum impact pressure and the maxima loading position using Frank Copula to include randomness. The proposed spatial distribution models were verified through a validation case, and the effect of the pile group on the wave pressure distribution was finally discussed. This paper provides useful tools for assessing the wave impacts on the elevated box structure.