Irregular Wave Forces On A Pile

A study of the forces on a pile caused by irregular waves was conducted in terms of time series analysis, for the pile section that is continually under water. A probability density function of force at a particular depth on the pile has been derived and is shown to be a function of two parameters only. Records of forces on a pile, of up to 20 minutes duration, were analyzed, and a good fit was found between the measured density distributions of force and those predicted from the theory. It was found that the distribution is not normal and that the probability of an extreme value of force is on the order of ten times greater than it would be if the data were fitted to a normal distribution.