Reconstruction and Analysis of Freak Waves Generated From Unidirectional Random Waves

Abstract The generation of two freak waves in a broadband and a narrowband random series registered in the experiments of Li, J. X., Li, P. F., and Liu, S. X. (2013, “Observations of Freak Waves in Random Wave Field in 2D Experimental Wave Flume,” China Ocean Eng., 27(5), pp. 659–670) is precisely reconstructed using a fully non-hydrostatic water wave model. The simulation results indicate that even when the background spectral bandwidths are different, the evolution processes of the two freak waves are similar. Both freak waves emerge quickly during the transition from normal states to extreme events. The freak waves can persist over a long distance, i.e., approximately 5 peak wavelengths. The reconstructed time series in both the backward and forward locations at which the freak waves were recorded reveal that the largest freak wave crests were not captured in the experiment. The freak waves gradually emerged from an intense wave group. The waves developed quickly during the transition from a normal state to an extreme event. Very deep troughs were also formed in the evolution process. The two freak waves were actually generated via different spectral bandwidth processes, but the generation mechanisms of the rogue waves were similar. By analyzing the time series of the freak wave groups, the formation of the freak waves is found to result from the combined effect of the dispersive focusing, the third-order resonant wave interactions, and the higher harmonics.