Experimental investigation of small-scale breaking waves : flow visualization across the air-water interface

The dynamics of breaking waves significantly affect air-sea fluxes of heat, momentum, mass and energy across the ocean interface. Breaking waves also contribute considerable loading to offshore and coastal structures, and furthermore, the quasi-steady bow wave on a ship increases drag and ease of detection by the bubbly wake. However, the complexity of the phenomenon has severely limited our ability to describe it and predict its occurrence. Research has typically involved field observations, controlled laboratory studies, and numerical simulations. A recent simulation presented new information about local energy dissipation and the coupled air-water effects of small breaking waves. In light of these findings, the objective of this thesis is to experimentally study small-scale breaking waves and examine the combined air-water flow fields using advanced visualization techniques. This research was performed in a narrow wavetank which was 2.5m long. Waves were generated with a hinged paddle and breaking occurred as the train propagated up a 15 degree slope to a level plateau. Waves were studied using surface piercing wave probes, high speed video, and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Ocean Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• McDonald, Angus Kai

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexandra H. Techet.

• Ocean Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33572

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/33572