Wave generation by flap-type wavemaker in circle arc numerical wave tanks

Abstract

A circle arc numerical wave tank for wave generation in a geotechnical centrifuge is presented in this paper. Compared with traditional straight wave tank, the use of the circle arc numerical wave tank can minimize the error due to the radial gravity field which produced by the centrifugal acceleration. A variety of cases generated by flap-type wavemakers in intermediate and deep waters are simulated in the circle arc numerical wave tanks and the accuracy of the numerical results are verified by a comparison with the numerical results in traditional straight wave tanks and the results of wavemaker theory. The results show that the wavemaker theory produced by Ursell can be used both in traditional straight numerical wave tanks but also in circle arc numerical wave tanks. The slight discrepancy of the results between the circle arc wave tanks and the traditional straight wave tanks can be attributed to the nonlinear effect caused by the circle arc. However, the discrepancy is insignificant which can be neglected for a circle arc wave tank with a relative long radius.