Characteristics of Breaking Bow Waves Generated by a 2D+T Wave Maker

Ship bow waves simulated experimentally with a 2D+T wave maker were investigated experimentally. Wave profile measurements are presented for a range of equivalent full-scale ship speeds ranging from 16.5 to 27 knots. At the beginning of the wave maker motion, the water surface rises rapidly up the surface of the wave board which represents the hull of the equivalent ship model. The maximum rise height and the rate of rise increase with increasing equivalent ship speed. Later in the wave maker motion, this point of maximum water height moves away from the wave board and forms the primary crest in the wave pattern. This crest moves at a speed that is about 1.8 times the maximum speed of the wave board. At the higher speeds, this wave crest evolves into a strong plunging breaker with a jet that hits the water surface ahead of the breaker, creating a large splash and entraining large amounts of air. The temporal histories of various geometrical characteristics of the breaker are presented.Copyright © 2006 by ASME