HYDRALAB-IV Foresight study on laboratory modelling of wave and ice loads on coastal and marine structures

The measurement of wave and / or ice loads on coastal and maritime structures can play an important role in their final design.  The number and range of man-made structures that are subject to these loads is increasing – from offshore oil and gas facilities, through ships and, renewable energy devices, to breakwaters, quay walls, bridges and tunnels.  This Foresight Study was produced by member of the HYDRALAB Joint Research Activity 'Hydraulic Response of Structures' (HyReS) on how the physical modelling of the interactions between structures and wave or ice forces may evolve.  It starts with a review of the present state-of-the art, identifies present shortcomings and identifies likely future developments.

The anticipated short-term advances include the development of:

• sampling schemes to allow shorter test series to be run;
• methods for computing the low-frequency response of floating structures;
• wave-generation techniques for tsunamis;
• shallow-water wave generation for wind waves;
• tactile pressure sensors to measure forces that vary in space and time;
• active transducers to reproduce non-linear mooring lines;
• remote sensing of water levels over wide areas;
• optical and acoustic devices for making measurements over surfaces or in 3D volumes; and
• data access through development of met-data and data standards and data-transfer techniques.

The longer-term (more speculative) changes that are anticipated include the:

• development of composite models with full two-way coupling between numerical and physical models in real time;
• drawing together of physical modellers with CFD modellers, who are developing numerical flumes and wave basins, to address similar problems;
• continued reduction in sensor size, improvements in resolution, increases in sampling frequency and improved spatial coverage, leading to much more detailed datasets;
• development of the active laboratory, with many more computer-controlled non-linear devices;
• improved treatment of uncertainty; and
• More open access to data as part of a wider movement towards open science.