3D Boundary Element methods are extensively used in Offshore Engineering to solve for linear and non-linear wave structure interaction problems. With a meshing requirement reduced to the structure's boundary surface, they provide an efficient and accurate ti'equency domain solution technique capable of approximating the structure response under regular wave loading. Modified to account for the effect of pressure oscillations on the interior free surface, the method was shown by Lee et al. (1995) to allow the modelling of Oscillating Water Columns Wave Energy Converters. The present paper aims at providing a detailed assessment of the method's accuracy for the solution of bottom mounted devices using a combination of numerical and experimental models. The preliminary assessment leads to an optimal numerical set up giving results in close agreement with the system's experimental response.
An accurate description of wave-structure interaction phenomena is essential to the design of efficient Wave Energy Converters (WEC). Many studies to date have devoted a significant effort to the development of computational models that would predict the system response and assist modellers in the initial design stage. These mathematical models are generally used prior to full 3D experimental analysis to assess tentative improvements and to narrow down optimal designs. The main Wave Energy Converter deployed world-wide, which benefited from this analytical effort, is the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device. However most models developed to date have been confined to specific configurations and are generally unsuitable for an accurate optimisation procedure. While a number of potential difficulties specific to the OWC were identified, recent developments in the numerical implementation of boundary, element methods were shown to allow an appropriate resolution of both diffraction and radiation problems.
