Oil Containment by Boom in Waves and Wind. II: Waves

Abstract

In the first of these companion papers, a two-phase numerical model was described and tested for some simple cases under wave conditions. This paper applies that numerical model to simulate the interfacial waves and oil free-surface waves under a number of key hydrodynamic conditions. The characteristics of oil-water interfacial waves and free-surface waves are discussed. Effects of currents and waves on the interfacial waves (interfacial elevation, oil-water relative velocity, and interfacial velocity components) are investigated. The variation of the oil thickness under current and wave conditions is also discussed. The computational results indicate that an increase in the incoming wave height and period may (1) cause instability of the oil-water interfacial waves near the front of the oil slick and this may promote entrainment failure; (2) increase the interfacial waves and free-surface waves at the boom; (3) lower the trough of the oil-water interface at the boom and thus promote drainage failure if the oil thickness exceeds the boom draft; and (4) decrease the freeboard of the boom and thus encourage oversplashing failure.