The velocity field underneath linear and nonlinear breaking rogue waves

Alberto Alberello, Amin Chabchoub, Alexander V. Babanin, Jason P. Monty, John Elsnab, Jung H. Lee, Elzbieta M. Bitner-Gregersen, Alessandro Toffoli

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

During the past decades, a large number of waves of extreme height and abnormal shape, also known as freak or rogue waves, have been recorded in the ocean. Velocities and related forces can be enormous and jeopardise the safety of marine structures. Here, we present an experimental study devoted to investigate the velocity field underneath a breaking rogue wave. The latter is replicated in the laboratory by means of dispersive focussing methods such as the New Wave Theory and nonlinear focussing techniques based on the Nonlinear Schrödinger equation. While the former is basically a liner method, the nonlinear focussing fully accounts for the dynamical evolution of the wave field. Experiments were carried out in the Extreme Air-Sea Interaction flume of the University of Melbourne using a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system to measure the velocity field below the water surface. Measurements show that the mechanism of generation affects the shape of the breaking waves as well as the kinematic field and associated hydrodynamic forces. Particularly, the New Wave Theory leads to higher velocities and a more energetic breaker than the nonlinear focussing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationStructures, Safety and Reliability
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791849941
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Oct 2016
Externally publishedYes
EventASME 2016 35th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering - Busan, South Korea
Duration: 19 Jun 201624 Jun 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering - OMAE
Volume3

Conference

ConferenceASME 2016 35th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering
Abbreviated titleOMAE 2016
Country/TerritorySouth Korea
CityBusan
Period19/06/1624/06/16

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