An Experimental Study of the Nonlinear Wave Forces on Horizontal Cylinders

Abstract

Nonlinear interactions between water waves and horizontally submerged cylinders (circular as well as rectangular) are experimentally investigated. The horizontal and vertical components of the forces acting on a single cylinder are measured at various depths of submergence. In the twin cylinder case, the forces acting on the rear cylinder are measured at various spacings and depths of submergence. The results are analysed and physically interpreted. It is found that the wave-breaking phenomenon plays an important role in the nonlinear interactions between waves and that the second-order force components and the non-zero drifting forces are sensitively dependent on the depth of submergence, the spacing between twin cylinders and the cross-configuration of the cylinders.