Thesis

Advancing high-resolution wave measurement systems for ocean engineering

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2025
Thesis identifier
  • T17466
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 202050028
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • Water waves are a ubiquitous and profoundly complex natural phenomenon, manifesting in diverse forms across rivers, coastal regions, and the open ocean, as well as in engineered environments such as wave flumes and offshore structures. Their pervasive presence underpins a multitude of scientific, engineering, and everyday phenomena, making them a subject of enduring fascination and practical importance. Even on a smaller scale, the gentle propagation of ripples across a pond or the rhythmic oscillations within a home aquarium serve as reminders of the intricate interplay between gravitational forces, fluid motion, and boundary interactions. However, water waves do not exist in isolation. Their behaviour is profoundly influenced by interactions with currents, wind fields, and submerged or floating structures, resulting in a rich diversity of wave forms, frequencies, and amplitudes. This complexity necessitates a nuanced understanding of fluid-structure interactions, which is critical for a wide range of applications. In maritime operations, for example, the safety and performance of vessels depend on accurate predictions of wave-induced loads and motions. Similarly, in coastal ecology, wavedriven sediment transport and hydrodynamic exchange processes are fundamental to habitat formation and ecosystem resilience. In the realm of offshore renewable energy, the coupling between waves and energy-harvesting devices directly impacts power generation efficiency and structural survivability. To address these challenges, researchers have developed a plethora of wave measurement and monitoring techniques, spanning from laboratory-scale experiments to open-ocean deployments. Yet, despite these advancements, many existing methods struggle to capture fine-grained, multi-dimensional data—essential for contemporary engineering tasks such as optimising wave energy converters, designing wave-manipulating metamaterials, or validating numerical models. It is within this context that this thesis presents the development, demonstration, and application of a high-resolution stereo-vision system for measuring water waves and analysing wave–structure interactions in controlled laboratory environments. A comprehensive literature review is first undertaken, examining both intrusive and non-intrusive wave measurement techniques—-from conventional resistance probes and acoustic sensors to advanced optical methods–while identifying persistent limitations in spatial resolution and the potential for disturbing the wave field. To address these shortcomings, the research introduces a novel camera-based ii methodology that leverages triangulation and Direct Linear Transformation (DLT) to reconstruct three-dimensional free-surface elevations with exceptional precision. Particular emphasis is placed on mitigating reflective artefacts and ensuring rigorous optical calibration, thereby enhancing the reliability and accuracy of the measurements. Through this work, the thesis aims to contribute a robust and versatile tool for advancing the study of water waves, with implications for both fundamental research and applied ocean engineering. Experimental investigations are conducted across desktop-scale and moderate-sized wave flumes, demonstrating the system’s capability to capture intricate hydrodynamic phenomena with high fidelity. Tests involving metamaterial structures reveal the system’s ability to detect subtle distortions or enhancements in wave amplitude and phase, providing insights into wave manipulation mechanisms. Observations of a wave energy converter’s motion further validate the stereo-vision system’s reliability, with results corroborated by comparisons to standard instrumentation, including commercial motion-tracking devices. Comparative analyses with conventional tools, such as calibration targets, underscore the versatility, precision, and robustness of the proposed methodology. While these experiments are confined to laboratory settings, the findings suggest that further advancements could enable the system’s deployment in more challenging environments, such as offshore testing sites or real-time monitoring of vessel wakes. Additionally, integrating the system with digital twins or numerical solvers could facilitate detailed comparisons between measured wave fields and advanced simulation outputs, thereby refining both experimental designs and theoretical models. Future work may focus on enhancing data handling capabilities, particularly through real-time image processing using dedicated hardware, as well as refining camera calibration techniques under variable lighting conditions. By providing a non-intrusive, precise, and adaptable means of capturing water surface dynamics as well as tracking moving objects, this thesis lays a robust foundation for more informed research and innovation across coastal, marine, and offshore engineering disciplines.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Jia, Laibing
Resource Type
DOI

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