Wave Crest Width?

[potterton]

I am trying to work out a reasonable while conservative value for wave crest width of a north sea maximum wave. ie length perpendicular to the wavelength.

I have calculated a download per metre required for pipeline on bottom stability but need a length over which this maximum wave will act.

Someone in my office recalls a rule of thumb of wave crest width = 3 x wavelength however he cannot remember the origin of this equation.

Does anyone have a different solution or a reference for this rule of thumb?

I have searched through some pretty intensive naval architechture books and realise this is a very complex issue. However for stability calcs a simple, conservative solution would be accepted

Mike

Pipeline Engineer

 

[DrillerNic]

The DNV rules for offshore structures, which have formulas for calculating maximum wave height might have the answer you're after.