An assessment of 3D boundary element methods for response prediction of generic OWCs

摘要

3D Boundary Element methods are extensively used in Offshore Engineering to solve for linear and non-linear wave structure interaction problems. With a meshing requirement reduced to the structure's boundary surface, they provide an efficient and accurate frequency domain solution technique capable of approximating the structure response under regular wave loading. Modified to account for the effect of pressure oscillations on the interior free surface, the method was shown by Lee et al. (1995) to allow the modelling of Oscillating Water Columns Wave Energy Converters. The present paper aims at providing a detailed assessment of the method's accuracy for the solution of bottom mounted devices using a combination of numerical and experimental models. The preliminary assessment leads to an optimal numerical set up giving results in close agreement with the system's experimental response.