The numerial solution of steady water wave problems

Abstract A simplified method is given for the numerical solution of the problem of steadily progressing waves, so that overall parameters and local fluid velocities and pressures may be obtained accurately for geophysical calculations and for engineering design. The method reduces to the solution of a set of nonlinear equations by Newton's method, where all the necessary derivatives are evaluated numerically, making the coding rather simpler. A FORTRAN program is presented which can solve problems in either deep water or water of finite depth, where either the wave length or period is specified, and where either the mean current or the mean mass transport velocity is specified.