Fast deterministic wave-by-wave prediction of real ocean waves

It is well-known that the power production of a wave energy converter can be significantly increased if we can tune it to respond optimally to each incoming wave.

In this project, our PhD student Thobani Hlophe is developing fast prediction tools to accurately predict weakly nonlinear waves in unidirectional and multidirectional seas. The method involves simple extension of the wave record using the properties of the latest values in the record and the statistics of the sea state, combining this with approximate second-order corrections to the surface elevation. Propagation in space and time is then possible using Fast Fourier Transform, ensuring its computational efficiency. This project is co-supervised by Dr. Hugh Wolgamot, Prof. Paul H. Taylor, Dr. Jana Orszaghova, and A/Prof. Scott Draper.