EFFECTS OF “DYNAMIC AMPLIFICATION” ON SMALL-SCALE EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS OF COASTAL STRUCTURES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS

Experimental investigation, using physical models, plays a key role in coastal and ocean engineering. However, slamming wave loads can cause vibration in the apparatus and, if the loading signal contains frequencies around the natural frequency of the structure, the structure may resonate. Therefore, this paper provides guidance on how to: plan an experimental model study, including impulsive wave loading; design an appropriate data processing methodology, to separate slamming forces from total force responses, and; interpret the experimental results.