A New Parametric Definition of Wave Energy

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2006

Authors

Francisco Taveira Pinto (Author) FEUP; Raquel Silva (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: COASTLAB06. Abstracts. Application of Physical Modelling to Port and Coastal Protection

Pages: 13-23

COASTLAB06. Application of Physical Modelling to Port and Coastal Protection

Porto, May 8-10

Indexing

ISI Proceedings

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Civil engineering

Other information

Abstract (EN): The global kinetic energy of regular waves is usually characterized through wave parameters, namely height and wave length, without reference to its vertical distribution. A new methodology to evaluate the vertical energy distribution from the velocity components was developed (Taveira Pinto and Silva, 2006). The squared velocity components¿ functions for each depth level may be theoretically calculated or determined from long enough measurements time series. The average of those functions at one specific depth level over the length of interest gives the mean horizontal and vertical specific kinetic energy at that level. In this paper, this new methodology to evaluate the vertical energy distribution from the velocity components is applied to irregular wave fields, to which the traditional method in the evaluation of the energy per unit area or wave length is not applicable. The theoretical generalization is based on Fourier series expansion of the surface elevation which is extended to the velocity potential, as predicted by their relation, given by the small-amplitude wave theory. From the velocity potential the generalized velocity components at each depth level may also be calculated. Numerically simulated specific kinetic energy profiles using the Fourier approximation and corresponding values calculated from measured velocity components for irregular wave fields are presented.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11