Introduction to Waves

Question 1

What is an Oscillating Water Column (OWC)?

Answer 1

A wave energy converter that uses air displaced by wave motion to drive a turbine.

Question 2

True or False: The Troll A platform weighs 683,000 tons and stands 472 meters high.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The design wave is selected from the sea state given a ________ period.

Answer 3

return

Question 4

Recall the equation for the design wave loading force.

Answer 4

F_design(x) = ∫ F_inst(x | h, t) · f_h,t(h, t) dt dh

Question 5

What type of flow is described by a scalar potential function and assumes zero vorticity?

Answer 5

Potential (Irrotational) Flow

Question 6

Define Unsteady Flow.

Answer 6

A type of flow where the velocity field changes with time at any given point.

Question 7

True or False: OpenFOAM is used for lab-based fluid measurement only.

Answer 7

False – it’s used for numerical simulation of fluid flows, including wave breaking.

Question 8

True or False: The design wave is generated randomly during offshore analysis.

Answer 8

False – it is chosen based on a return period from long- and short-term analysis.

Question 9

What is Wave Run-up?

Answer 9

The vertical extent of wave uprush on a structure or shoreline above still water level.

Question 10

What are the three steps of the offshore engineering design process?

Answer 10

Step 1: Long-term analysis Step 2: Short-term analysis Step 3: Design wave selection

Question 11

What are the variables
H_s, T_z, and σ_η used for in wave design?

Answer 11

They describe sea-state characteristics: significant wave height, zero-crossing period, and surface elevation standard deviation.

Question 12

True or False: Wave interaction with fixed and floating structures is part of this module.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What is meant by ‘Second-order Effects’ in wave theory?

Answer 13

These are nonlinear contributions to wave energy and propagation not captured by linear theory.