Wave energy focusing in a three-dimensional numerical wave tank

Directional wave energy focusing in space is one of the mechanisms that may contribute to the generation of a rogue wave in the ocean. The generation of extreme waves in a three-dimensional numerical wave tank from the motion of a snake wavemaker was studied. The numerical model solves incompressible fully non-linear free surface Euler equations for potential flow, using a higher-order Boundary Element Method and a mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian time updating. Recent improvements of this numerical model have consisted in the implementation of the Fast Multipole Algorithm, to improve the computational efficiency of the spatial solver. A typical case of a near breaking rouge wave is presented as an application. A description of the particular geometry of such a wave is given, as well as preliminary results for the particle velocities at the surface and under the wave crest. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 15th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (Seoul, Korea 6/19-24/2005)