Design analysis of piston type wave generator for flume

In this thesis, the design, analysis, manufacturing, and experimental validation of a piston-type wave generator developed for an existing wave flume with a length of 24 m and a cross-section of 1 m × 1 m are presented. The original flap-type wave generator installed in the flume was removed and replaced with a piston-type system. The main objective of the study is to develop a mechanically safe and reliable piston-type wave generator capable of producing regular waves under laboratory conditions. First, the working principle of the piston-type wave generator was investigated theoretically, and the design criteria were determined based on wave theory. According to these criteria, the mechanical design of the system was completed, a three-dimensional CAD model was created, and the structural behavior of the system was evaluated using the finite element method. The numerical analysis results indicated that the designed system is structurally safe under static and dynamic loading conditions. Following the design and analysis stages, the piston-type wave generator was manufactured and installed in the wave flume. Experimental tests were conducted under various operating conditions, and the system was observed to operate in a stable manner. The experimental observations demonstrated that the wave generator was able to produce regular waves within the targeted wave height and period ranges, confirming the validity of the design assumptions and numerical analysis results. The results of this study show that replacing the flap-type wave generator with a piston-type system provides improved control and repeatability in wave generation for the existing wave flume. This study presents a comprehensive engineering approach for the design and implementation of piston-type wave generators in laboratory-scale wave flumes.