THE HARBOUR RAY MODEL

The Harbour Ray Model has been developed to predict storm and swell wave activity inside a harbour or marina. It tracks rays (lines running perpendicular to the wave crest) inshore from the harbour entrance, in the direction of wave travel. In doing this the model calculates the effects of diffraction by breakwaters, depth refraction from boundaries on wave conditions within the harbour. The model is ideal for helping the engineer to study the feasibility of a new harbour or breakwater extension. It provides a quick and inexpensive method of predicting wave disturbance for a number of design options and in this way assists the engineer to optimise a harbour layout.