Development of a Model for Coastal Waves and Floating Structures

Abstract : Our long-term goal is to develop a comprehensive model to predict coastal surface waves in any harbor (or open coastal regions also) and their effect on floating objects in confined waters. Several years of theoretical and applied research will be converted into a practical tool that eliminates the limitations of existing nearshore wave models used operationally by the Navy. Our objectives are to further develop and provide to the Navy a wave transformation model that includes wave refraction, diffraction (by bathymetry and structures, islands, etc.), reflection, dissipation by friction and breaking, and the effect of tidal (or other surface currents) on wind waves and swell. The goal is to make the model simultaneously accurate (to obtain a satisfactorily reliable representation of the sea-state) and efficient (for rapid integration with other ocean wave models and/or possible onboard utilization with a medium-size computer). A further goal is to develop a three-dimensional module (to be interfaced with the wave model) that can utilize the predicted wave fields to estimate forces on floating structures in a harbor.