PREDICTED WAVE FIELD IN A LABORATORY WAVE BASIN

The present paper describes a numerical method for predicting the wave field produced by a segmented wave generator undergoing specified motions in a wave basin which may contain partially reflecting sides. The approach used is based on linear diffraction theory and utlizes a point source representation of the generator segments and any reflecting walls that are present. The method involves the application of a partial reflection boundary condition, which is discussed. Numerical results are presented for the propagating wave field due to specified wave generator motions in a rectangular basin. Cases that are considered include both perfectly absorbing and partially reflecting beaches along the basin sides, as well as the presence of perfectly reflecting short sidewalls near the generator. The method appears able to account adequately for the effects of wave diffraction and partial reflections, and to predict the generated wave field realistically.