Hullámkelt

Hullámkelt is a Hungarian term referring to the process or apparatus used to generate surface waves in fluids, typically in a controlled laboratory setting such as a wave tank. It is used in ocean engineering and hydrodynamics to simulate ocean waves for experiments and testing.

The equipment involved, often called a wavemaker, includes paddle-type devices, flap-type actuators, and piston-based systems. They create waves by imposing prescribed oscillations at the boundary of a basin or flume. In two-dimensional experiments a single wavemaker can produce sinusoidal waves; in three-dimensional setups, multiple actuators can generate directional wave fields or prescribed spectra.

The generation of waves is described by fluid dynamics. For small amplitudes, linear wave theory provides practical predictions of wave height, period, and speed based on the motion of the wavemaker. Real experiments must account for nonlinear effects, wave breaking, viscosity, and reflections. Scaling laws, such as Froude similarity, are often used to relate model tests to real-world conditions.

Applications include testing coastal defenses and breakwaters, offshore platforms and ships, and devices that convert wave energy. Hullámkelt is also used to calibrate numerical models and to educate students in fluid dynamics and coastal engineering.

Operational considerations include accurate waveform control to achieve target statistics, strategies to suppress reflections with absorbing boundaries, and reliable measurement of generated waves using wave probes or imaging techniques.