Some Statistical Properties of Random Waves in a Sea Storm

Abstract

In this paper some statistical properties of random waves in a sea storm are investigated. The classical Borgman’s approach is applied to obtain the analytical expressions of both the probability PK(H) that in a sea storm only K waves higher than a fixed threshold H occur, and the probability P≥K(H) that in a sea storm at least K waves higher than a fixed threshold H occur, with K = 1, 2, 3,… Moreover, it is shown that, if the number K is negligible in comparison with the number of waves occurring in the storm, the results may be expressed in an integral form. This integral form is very useful to particularize both PK(H) and P≥K(H) for a storm with a triangular time history. Finally, the results are validated with Montecarlo simulations of random waves in a sea storm of given time history.

Characterizing Dangerous Waves for Ocean Wave Energy Converter Survivability

“…Note that there does not appear to be a direct correlation between storm duration and related intensity. This is also apparent through the Equivalent Triangular Storm concept shown by Arena and Pavone [10]. There were no storm events between April and September, and the worst storms tended to be in December and January.…”

“…The breaking factor for the most dangerous wave of a given storm may be calculated by setting the RHS of (9) equal to 1/n and solving for B: Table 2 lists the parameter λ along with the actual and calculated maximum breaking severity factor for the top ten storms introduced in Table 1. The calculated maximum breaking severity factor was found using (10), where n was the number of breaking waves.…”