The Diffraction of Multidirectional Random Waves by Trapezoidal Submarine Pits

A numerical model is presented to predict the interaction of multidirectional random surface waves with one or more trapezoidal submarine pits. In the present formulation, each pit may have a different side slope, while the four side slopes at the interior edge of any given pit are assumed equal. The water depth in the fluid region exterior to the pits is taken to be uniform, and the solution method for a random wave system involves the superposition of linear-wave diffraction solutions based on a two-dimensional boundary integral equation approach. The incident wave conditions are specified using a discrete form of the Mitsuyasu directional spectrum. The results of the present numerical model have been compared with those of previous theoretical studies for regular and random wave diffraction by single or multiple rectangular pits. Reasonable agreement was obtained in all cases. Based on these comparisons it is concluded that the present numerical model is an accurate and efficient tool to predict the wave field around multiple submarine pits of trapezoidal section in many practical situations.