Design of a Wave Overtopping Simulator With Variability in Simulated Flows

A new experimental setup for conducting large- to full-scale wave overtopping experiments will be constructed at Delft University of Technology. This setup consists of an indoor Wave Overtopping Simulator (iWOS), a landward dike slope, and a transition to the toe. The iWOS, with a height of 3.25 meters, can release volumes of up to 2.67 m³/m of water. A key innovation is its controllable release valve, allowing variability in flow characteristics for the same overtopping volume. The iWOS is designed based on established relationships between overtopping volume and flow characteristics at the landward crest of a dike. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are applied to further refine the design and determine its operating range. Compared to traditional wave flume experiments, the larger scale of this experimental setup produces high Reynolds and Weber numbers that enable realistic simulation of turbulence and aeration. Furthermore, unlike wave overtopping simulators used in field tests, the controlled laboratory environment allows for advanced measurement techniques for hydrodynamics, such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).