Water Wave Propagation Caused by Underwater Blasting in a 3D Numerical Wave Tank

Abstract

When underwater blasting is conducted, both shock waves and water waves have an effect on adjacent coastal areas. In this study, an empirical formula for estimating the details of water waves caused by underwater blasting was applied to a non-reflected wave generation system, and a 3D numerical wave tank (NWT) was improved to reproduce the generation and propagation of such water waves. The maximum elevations of the propagated water waves were comparatively analyzed to determine the validity and effectiveness of the NWT. Good agreement was demonstrated between the empirical and simulation results. The generation and propagation of water waves were also simulated under each underwater blasting scenario for the removal of the Todo islet at the Busan Newport International Terminal (PNIT). It was determined that the water waves generated by the underwater blasting scenario examined in this study did not have a significant impact on the PNIT. In addition, multiple-charge blasting caused higher wave heights than single-charge blasting. As the amount of firing charge increased, the wave height also increased. Finally, larger water waves were generated during the later blasting conducted at a deeper depth as compared with an earlier blasting conducted at a relatively shallow depth.