The hydrodynamic behaviour of an oscillating wave surge converter (OWSC) in large motion excited by nonlinear waves is investigated. The mechanism through which the wave energy is absorbed in the nonlinear system is analysed. The mathematical model used is based on the velocity potential theory together with the fully nonlinear boundary conditions on the moving body surface and deforming free surface. The problem is solved by the boundary element method. Numerical results are obtained to show how to adjust the mechanical properties of the OWSC to achieve the best efficiency in a given wave, together with the nonlinear effect of the wave height. Numerical results are also provided to show the behaviour of a given OWSC in waves of different frequencies and different heights.

The hydrodynamic problem of slamming generated by a rotating flap, commonly known as Oyster in the wave energy sector, plunging into water, is analysed based on the incompressible velocity potential theory. The problem is solved through the boundary element method in the time domain. Two typical case studies are undertaken. One is the flap plunging into calm water and the other into an incoming wave. The splash jet formed during the flap plunging is included in the simulation. When the jet meets the main flow, it is treated through the domain decomposition method without taking account the secondary impact, which is similar to the mathematical method of Riemann’s second sheet in the complex plane. The problem is solved in each non-overlapping subdomain, and the velocity and pressure continuity condition is imposed on the interface of the subdomains. Detailed results for the flap plunging into water with different velocities or accelerations are provided. The gravity and wave effects are also investigated.

The local flow near the edge of a horizontal plate impacting a flat liquid surface is investigated through velocity potential flow theory. The inner solution is matched with the outer solution. The far field of the inner solution is assumed to be far away from the other edge of the plate, and thus, its effect can be neglected. The effects of surface tension, viscous friction, and gravity are accounted for in the fully nonlinear dynamic boundary condition on the free surface. When one of these effects is dominant and the other two can be ignored, it is then possible to use self-similar variables to describe the local flow if the entry speed varies with time in a corresponding manner. Detailed results for various self-similar solutions are provided, and the relative importance of the Weber number, Reynolds number, and Froude number is investigated. Simulations are also undertaken for general non-similar flow, and the comparison with the experimental data is also made.

The problem of wave interaction with multiple adjacent floating solar panels with arbitrary types and numbers of constraints is considered. All the solar panels are assumed to be homogeneous, with the same physical properties, as well as modeled by using the Kirchhoff-Love plate theory. The motion of the fluid is described by the linear velocity potential theory. The domain decomposition method is employed to obtain the solutions. In particular, the entire fluid domain is divided into two types, the one below the free surface, and the other below elastic plates. The velocity potential in the free surface domain is expressed into a series of eigenfunctions. By contrast, the boundary integral equation and the Green function are employed to construct the velocity potential of fluid beneath the entire elastic cover, with unknowns distributed along two interfaces and jumps of physical parameters of the plates. All these unknowns are solved from the system of linear equations, which is established from the matching conditions of velocity potentials and edge conditions. This approach is confirmed with much higher computational efficiency compared with the one only involving eigenfunction expansion for the fluid beneath each plate. Extensive results and discussions are provided for the reflection and transmission coefficients of water waves, maximum deflection, and principal strain of the elastic plates; especially, the influence of different types and numbers of edge constraints are investigated in detail.