Ocean Wave Simulation

What is the waveform of an ocean wave, and how does the water move.

This can be demonstrated by this little simulator. The basic section has just one bar moving in a circle, but by coupling a series of sections with an offset of rotation it will simulate 8 (or even 16 points, in theory) on the waveform, and the rotation of these points will show how the wave is moving.

The offset of rotation between the sections comes automatically because the gear wheels do not connect  perfectly, so there will be a delay from one section to another.

Don't do this model unless you really want to. Its complicated, and tolerances are very critical. I have set "X-Y hole compensation" and "X-Y contour compensation" to values found by trial and error - mostly errors!

"Precise wall" might be a good choice as well, for the model to run more smoothly.

I include illustrations that show 8 and 16 connected sections, which give a nice view of the waveform. It would be very optimistic to try to make this work mechanically unless printing it at a larger scale.

The model files are at 60% and 75% of my original design to save print time, and to make it fit inside a 22 x 22 cm print plate. The big wheel with the handle and the longer crankshaft that is used for it only need to be included for the first section, if you connect a row of wavepoints.

I have only made it run up to 4 sections combined in the 75% scaled version. Too much resistance. There will be a much simpler wave simulator shortly ;-)

A few comments to explain:

If you watch a bird floating on the water, does it move up and down only? No, it also moves left and right. If you trace the movement, you will see that it moves in a circle.

So water on the surface of waves move in a circle, and the waveform is the result of the adjecent water being slightly asyncroneous and therefore creating a running waveform. The resulting waveform is called a trochoide if you want to know the mathematical definition.

There may be an additional component of horizontal movement caused by current.

My interest in ocean waves comes from being a surfski paddler.