A Bayesian inverse dynamic approach for impulsive wave loading reconstruction: Theory, laboratory and field application

The measurement of wave forces acting on marine structures is a complicated task, both during physical experiments and, even more so, in the field. Force transducers adopted laboratory require minimum level structural movement, thus violating main assumption fully rigid structure and introducing dynamic response system. Sometimes induced vibrations are so intense that they completely nullify reliability experiments. On-site, it complex, since there no force size capacity able to measure such massive intensity over very large domain structure. To this end, investigation proposes Bayesian methodology aimed remove undesired effects from directly (laboratory applications) or indirectly (field measured forces. paper presents three applications method: i) theoretical application synthetic signal for which MATLAB® procedures provided, ii) an experimental data collected model broken loading cylinder upon shoal iii) field designed reconstruct generated recorded Wolf Rock lighthouse Hurricane Ophelia. proposed allows inclusion existing information breaking through process-based informative prior distributions, while also provides formal framework uncertainty quantification results posterior distribution. Notable findings shows similar features data. load time series characterised by initial impulsive component constituted two peaks followed delayed smoother one. first due impact aerated front sudden deceleration falling water mass previously upward accelerated impact. third, less peak, interaction between remaining carried individual wave. Finally, method properly identify length component. implications use impulse theory assessment design discussed.