Author(s): Winyu Rattanapitikon, Suwimol Kanokrattananukul
Linked Author(s): Winyu Rattanapitikon
Keywords: Wave shoaling, empirical formula, offshore, linear wave, nonlinear wave.
Abstract: The present study concentrates on the computation of shoaling wave heights based on simple empirical formulas. During the past decades, various simple empirical formulas have been proposed for computing wave shoaling. No direct literature has been made to describe clearly the applicability and accuracy of the existing empirical formulas. This study is undertaken to examine the accuracy of five empirical formulas for computing regular wave shoaling. The formulas are developed empirically from the computed results of nonlinear wave models. One formula is in a form of implicit equation, while the others are in the form of explicit equations. Forty cases of measured shoaling wave heights from four sources of published experimental data are used to examine the formulas. The data covers a range of deepwater wave steepness from 0. 002 to 0. 069. The accuracy of the formulas is also compared with that of a linear wave theory. It is found that the linear wave theory gives a reasonable overall prediction of shoaling wave heights. Three empirical formulas give better prediction than that of a linear wave theory. The formulas, that give better prediction than that of a linear wave theory, are selected to be recalibrated. The calibrated formulas give slightly better accuracy than the best existing formula. Considering accuracy and simplicity of the formulas, only one formula is recommended to be used for computing the shoaling of regular wave heights
Year: 2017