Experimental investigation into three-dimensional long wave breaking

This paper presents a new set of experimental data and numerical simulations for three dimensional long wave breaking. The experiments were performed in the large-scale. Tsunami Wave Basin at Oregon State University through the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation program. A directional wave generator generates a focused solitary or N-wave wave that breaks at a targeted location. Essentially this focused 3D breaking utilizes oblique wave-wave interactions, to create a large breaking, stem-wave in the middle of the tank. Free surface profiles and velocity in the water column are measured before, during and after wave breaking to examine breaking criteria and energy loss. The measurements were taken with wave gauges, acoustic Doppler velocimeters, and video cameras. Specifically, free surface time series were measured at 45 different (x,y) locations, 3D velocity components were recorded at 124 different (x,y,z) points, and video was taken from a few different angles, including a direct overhead view. The experimental data will be presented, and comparisons with a Boussinesq wave model will be given.