Wave loads on ocean infrastructure increase as a result of waves passing over abrupt depth transitions

Journal article (2022)

Authors

Zhenhao Li University of Oxford
Tianning Tang University of Oxford
Yan Li University of Bergen, University of Oxford
S. Draycott The University of Manchester
T.S. van den Bremer Environmental Fluid Mechanics - CEG , University of Oxford
Thomas A.A. Adcock University of Oxford
Research Group
Environmental Fluid Mechanics (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2022 Zhenhao Li, Tianning Tang, Yan Li, Samuel Draycott, T.S. van den Bremer, Thomas A.A. Adcock
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s40722-022-00269-4
Kinematics Ocean waves OceanWave3D Abrupt depth transitions Steps Wave loads
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Published Date

2022

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Hydraulic Engineering

Research Group

Environmental Fluid Mechanics

Abstract

Abrupt changes in water depth are known to lead to abnormal free-surface wave statistics. The present study considers whether this translates into abnormal loads on offshore infrastructure. A fully non-linear numerical model is used which is carefully validated against experiments. The wave kinematics from the numerical model are used as input to a simple wave loading model. We find enhanced overturning moments, an increase of approximately 20%, occur over a distance of a few wavelengths after an abrupt depth transition. We observe similar results for 1:1 and 1:3 slopes. This increase does not occur in linear simulations.