Solitary wave impact on a vertical wall

Abstract

Wave impact on a vertical wall has been investigated in a physical and numerical wave tank. Two different impact phenomena were explored. A flip-through, where the front face of the wave was moving rapidly vertical due to a jet and a case with a very steep wave were generated in a wave tank. In the latter, the front was almost vertical and the measured pressure at impact was 60% higher than the flip-through event. Both kinematics and pressures were measured and compared with numerical simulations. Similar features were seen in both experiments and simulations. Maximum pressure is found when a vertical front is violently impacting on a vertical wall. A pronounced double pressure peak is observed in the pressure measurements due to the impact and rundown process.