Experimental Study of Wave Forces on Vertical Cylinders in Shallow Waters

An experimental study of wave forces on the vertical cylinders in shallow waters was carried out in a wave channel. The wave parameters, wave forces and wave pressures are measured and studied in the paper. The study indicates that the distribution of wave pressures of the shallow water waves can be described by an exponential function with respect to water depth. The maximum surface elevation for shallow water waves can be estimated using the significant wave height. The wave pressure around circumference can be expressed as a simple form of cosine function. An experimental formula for the calculation of wave forces on vertical cylinders is proposed. As compared with test data, the predicted wave forces showed good agreement and high reliability. The calculated wave forces by different wave theories are less than those of the proposed method. Therefore, the wave force calculation method for shallow water waves should be modified for engneering applications.