Specific kinetic energy concept for regular waves

Abstract

The global kinetic energy of regular waves is usually characterized through the characteristic parameters wave height and wave length without reference to its vertical distribution. In this paper a new methodology to evaluate the vertical energy distribution from the velocity components is presented. The methodology could also be an alternative for irregular wave fields, with several wave lengths, to which the traditional method in the evaluation of the energy per unit area or wave length is not applicable. The squared velocity components functions for each water level can be theoretical or determined from long enough measurements time series. The average of those functions at one specific depth level over the length of interest gives the mean horizontal and vertical specific kinetic energy at that level. The global kinetic energy corresponds to the total specific kinetic energy integration in depth.