ACOUSTIC TECHNIQUES OF WATER WAVE HEIGHT MEASUREMENT

The technique of measuring wave tank instantaneous surface elevation by acoustic methods has been investigated. The motivation to use acoustic methods over presently successful wave probes of the capacitive or resistive type, is the ability of acoustic probes to operate with fluids other than water and with water covered by an oil layer. The latter condition arises in current studies of oil spill phenomena. The principal characteristics and limitations of the pulse-echo method and the continuous wave interferometer method have been determined. A fully operational acoustic wave probe utilizing the interferometer technique was designed and tested, and has been shown to be most useful for measuring small amplitude, low frequency waves.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Ocean Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • White, K E
• Publication Date: 1974-6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic detectors; Measurement; Technology; Wave height; Wave measurement
• Old TRIS Terms: Acoustic detection systems
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00057475
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Report/Paper Numbers: MS Thesis
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 1974 12:00AM