364
CHAPTER 7. LABORATORY WAVE GENERATION
out that under certain conditions, the inclined-plate wave generator was
very inefficient.
7.3.3 Plunger-Type Wavemaker
Plunger-type wavemakers consist of a solid body that oscillates vertically
in the wave tank about the mean water level, such as illustrated in Figure 7.8. The vertical motion of the solid plunger displaces fluid, forcing the
wave motion. The plunger may be of any size and shape, but cylinders and
triangular shapes are most prevalent. Plunger-type wavemakers are commonly used in wave basins because they can be fabricated as fairly long
wave machines, and they are easily relocated within the basin.
Figure 7.8: Plunger-Type Wavemaker.
Plunger-type wavemakers are theoretically more difficult to analyze, and
they have not been extensively studied. Consequently, correspondence between regular (or irregular) wave heights and plunger stroke for a particular
configuration is often established via empirical measurements rather than
by theoretical analyses.
Wang (1974) presented a mathematical treatment of the plunger-type
wavemaker which allowed general plunger shapes, but was strictly derived for deepwater waves. Wang’s development used the same first-order
CHAPTER 7. LABORATORY WAVE GENERATION
out that under certain conditions, the inclined-plate wave generator was
very inefficient.
7.3.3 Plunger-Type Wavemaker
Plunger-type wavemakers consist of a solid body that oscillates vertically
in the wave tank about the mean water level, such as illustrated in Figure 7.8. The vertical motion of the solid plunger displaces fluid, forcing the
wave motion. The plunger may be of any size and shape, but cylinders and
triangular shapes are most prevalent. Plunger-type wavemakers are commonly used in wave basins because they can be fabricated as fairly long
wave machines, and they are easily relocated within the basin.
Figure 7.8: Plunger-Type Wavemaker.
Plunger-type wavemakers are theoretically more difficult to analyze, and
they have not been extensively studied. Consequently, correspondence between regular (or irregular) wave heights and plunger stroke for a particular
configuration is often established via empirical measurements rather than
by theoretical analyses.
Wang (1974) presented a mathematical treatment of the plunger-type
wavemaker which allowed general plunger shapes, but was strictly derived for deepwater waves. Wang’s development used the same first-order