Variability of plunging wave pressures on vertical cylinders

Abstract

The variability of pressures resulting from plunging wave impact on a smooth vertical cylinder is examined. Based on laboratory measurements, the fluctuations in the pressure characteristics are found to be associated with two main factors: One is the significant shift in the wave breaking location relative to the cylinder location, and the other is the randomness of the wave breaking kinematics and the trapped air dynamics. The variation of the peak pressure magnitudes associated with the latter is presented. Both the mean characteristics and the probability distributions are examined.