Wave Forces on an Array of Vertical Cylinders

Abstract

Based on Kakuno and Liu's perturbation theory, the formula for wave forces acting on an array of vertical cylinders is derived. The perturbation approach is based on the small amplitude and simple harmonic wave theory. Furthermore, the distance between two adjacent cylinders is assumed to be smaller than the wave length of incident waves so that flow separations and energy dissipation are confined with the neighborhood of cylinders. The wave forces are calculated from the pressure differences in front and behind the array. Laboratory experiments are performed by using square cylinders. Theoretical results agree with the experimental data very well over a range of water depths.