Wave Force Analysis by the Finite Element Method

Abstract

The finite element method is applied to determine the wave forces and wave fields for various coastal and ocean structures. Wave diffraction and radiation problems are solved by the method. A special infinite element is implemented in a computer program to model an outer infinite sea area. The employed numerical examples are for a vertical breakwater, a gravity-type ocean platform and a floating rectangular caisson. All computed results are compared with ones from experiments and other numerical methods. As a result, it is concluded that the finite element method using infinite elements can give sufficient accuracy to be applicable to most practical structures in the ocean.