A new semi-analytical model is developed to predict the dynamic response of slender gates in combination with an overhang, which are subjected to standing waves. Still little is known for these types of gates for this specific forcing type. The semi-analytical model is still in its development phase and must be validated on its performance. This thesis aims for validation of the modal calculations performed by the Semi-Analytical model for submerged gates, which include fluid structure interaction. Several experiments were executed in the wave flume at the faculty of Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Delft. Dry hammer tests, wet hammer tests and wave tests were executed for different water levels. Different plates were investigated in the experiments: Solid Plate and Reinforced Plate. A measurement plan was designed to obtain reliable results from the measurement devices (strain gauges and accelerometers). The experimental data was subjected to an Experimental Modal Analysis algorithm. The Frequency Domain Decomposition turned out to be most suitable for this situation. The mode shapes that were found were subjected to a Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC), in order to compare them with the semi-analytical prediction. The results from the wet modal analysis showed that the Solid Plate had good correspondence with the prediction of the semi-analytical model. The mode shapes turned out to have a high MAC values, while the natural frequencies showed small relative errors for the modes under consideration. The Reinforced Plate was less accurate. In the wave experiments the first three modes were found, which were also believed to have the highest energy input. Considerable high MAC values assured that the identified modes were indeed the same as the modes of the semi-analytical prediction. The natural frequencies showed larger errors for especially the first mode (approx. 30%). It was observed that several measurement errors might have influenced the results of the Reinforced Plate. After finalizing the experiments for this plate, I discovered that the stiffeners and front plates came loose from the U-frame. The dynamic quantities of the Reinforced Plate were therefore adjusted during the experiments. The datasets of the experiments that were most trustworthy were selected for the different analyses. The Regular Wave Impact experiments showed good correspondence and where therefore assumed to be correct. The Solid Plate was concluded to behave as predicted by the semi-analytical model. High correlation between the predicted and identified modes and small errors in the natural frequencies were observed. The data from the Reinforced Plate showed that the high energy modes were identified for the wave experiments. Modal shapes had high correlation between predicted and identified ones, while the natural frequencies had somewhat large errors. It was observed that small natural frequency errors for the input modes resulted in relatively small errors for the calculated modes. Further validation of the model should focus on the prediction of maxima and time series of the response. The step from modal analysis to a time series is a final step in the semi-analytical model.

Hydraulic structures can be prone to impulsive wave impact, which is a highly stochastic and uncertain process. This type of impact, defined by extreme pressure peaks and a very short duration, is not only caused by breaking waves, but also by non-breaking standing waves on structures with an overhang, such as culverts and steel gates. In this study, the capabilities of the Lagrangian numerical tool Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) are validated by means of experimental research conducted at the Hydraulics lab of the Delft university of Technology, in which two short overhang configurations were subjected to multiple non-breaking wave conditions. SPH distinguishes itself by discretizing the numerical domain in particles instead of a grid, unlike traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In doing so, it excels in free surface modelling and complex wave-structure interaction. In this thesis, the theory of pressure-impulse is applied, which is defined as the integral of the pressure over the impact duration. This method is more stable than using pressure peaks and can be used to obtain the reaction forces on hydraulic structures. However, the theory is in development and subject of recent literature. This research includes the theoretical pressure-impulse model, which is based on the Laplace equation and solely includes the vertical impact by assuming a circular profile under the overhang with a constant impact velocity. Furthermore, a new conceptual model is introduced, which is based on integration by the particle velocities in both horizontal and vertical direction as described by Linear Wave Theory. The assumptions of the velocity fields of both models are assessed by the SPH method. As a result, modifications are proposed to the conceptual model and validated with the experiment. SPH shows good agreement with the experiment in terms of wave generation, pressure distribution and pressure-impulse profile. However, the lack of air in the numerical model result in overestimations of the pressure peaks. The more air is entrapped in the experimental wave impact, the higher the deviation. That said, the impact duration also becomes longer the more air is entrapped while the SPH model shows a somewhat constant and shorter duration. As a result, the pressure-impulse profiles shows corrective behavior over the vertical, mitigates the absence of air and thus greatly increases the accuracy and stability of the results. Finally, an analytical validation is performed in which the theoretical models for overhang configurations and design formulae for vertical walls are compared to SPH and the experiment.