high performance computing on graphics processing units: hgpu.org

Simulation of ocean waves can be categorized into two major groups. First one is based on the physical models whereas the other generates the ocean waves based on either geometrical shapes or oceanography spectrums. Even though the later method group requires less computational effort, the waves modelled are less realistic in nature. Currently MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) provides ship manoevering simulators. Computation of the wave field is based on the wave spectra (Fourier theory). Being deterministic in time and space; they are easy to implement on distributed simulation systems. Also the ship movements are realistic. However, this model is not interactive, that is impact of the ship movement on the wave field is not taken into account. Also, from a visualization point of view, the model is limited. In theory, for fluid simulation, the non-linear Navier Stokes equations along with the equation of continuity are solved. Boussinesq’s approximation for water waves is applied for weakly non-linear and fairly long waves. The essential idea in the Boussinesq approximation is the eliminiation of the vertical coordinate from the flow structure, while still retaining some of the influence of the vertical structure of the flow. This is possible because wave propagates in the horizontal direction, whereas it has a different non-wave like behavior in the vertical direction. In Boussinesq-like models, an approximate vertical structure of the flow is used to eliminate the vertical space.