Wave Generation Characteristic Analysis of Piston and Flap Type Wave Maker with Rotary-Valve-control Vibrator

Wave maker is one of the most important experimental equipment in marine engineering. To meet the demands of simulation of higher wave amplitude and compare the effect of piston and flap type wave generation, a new wave generation device was proposed and a new piston and flap type wave maker with a rotary-valve-control vibrator was developed. A mathematical model of the new wave maker was established and analysed by Simulink, and a series of experiments were conducted on the wave maker to analyze wave generation characteristics. The results show that the wave maker can adjust the distance of wave paddle and generate different regular waves. The bigger the axial opening size of the valve port, the larger the wave paddle amplitude and the wave amplitude; the higher the pressure, the higher the wave paddle amplitude and the wave amplitude. High frequency wave making is more efficient than the lower one, and piston type wave making is more efficient than those wave makers that generate waves by flap type.