Young, Ian Robert (1983) The response of waves to an opposing wind. PhD thesis, James Cook University.

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Abstract

The results of a laboratory study of the response of waves to an opposing wind are presented. The study was conducted in a special purpose wind-wave flume which allowed mechanically generated waves to propagate in opposition to wind. The mechanically generated waves were created by a wedge wave maker for which an extensive set of measurements were performed to determine its transfer function. A wave follower which could hold pressure and velocity probes a fixed distance above the moving water surface was designed and constructed. Extensive evaluation experiments indicated that the wave follower tracked the water surface with little error in the frequency range of interest. The transfer functions of all intermediate devices in the pressure and velocity recording systems were determined and subsequently used to correct all pressure and velocity records. Measurements of the wave induced pressure at various heights above the waves-indicated that the pressure and water surface were 180º out of phase, consistent with the predictions of potential flow theory. Such a result indicates that there is no air-water energy flux due to normal stresses. Measurements of the velocity field above the waves indicated that the Reynolds stress term -p ǖǖ can cause waves to decay in an opposing wind. The magnitude of the decay is proportional to the wave slope squared and the term (1 - U ∞/C) squared. Hence, high frequency waves will decay far more rapidly than low frequency waves. Typical results indicate that low frequency ocean swell is almost uneffected by opposing winds whereas high frequency wind waves will be attenuated very rapidly.

Item ID:	12010
Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Keywords:	wave actions, opposing winds, wave measurements, energy transfer, flow mechanics, wave decay, hydrodynamics, wave dynamics, water waves, fluid mechanics
Additional Information:	Ian Young received a JCU Outstanding Alumni Award in 2010.
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2010 05:56
FoR Codes:	09 ENGINEERING > 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering > 091504 Fluidisation and Fluid Mechanics @ 50% 09 ENGINEERING > 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering > 091508 Turbulent Flows @ 50%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970109 Expanding Knowledge in Engineering @ 100%
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