Scale effects in a wave-refraction experiment

Abstract

The experimental results of Provis (1975, 1976) for wave amplification at a conical island bear little resemblance to the theoretical predictions of Smith & Sprinks (1975). Here Provis's suggestion is confirmed: that his experiments were dominated by viscous damping and by standing waves between the island and the wavemaker. Estimates are given as to how large an experiment needs to be to avoid these important scale effects.