Uncertainty analysis in the frequency domain simulation of a hinged wave energy converter

This paper presents the uncertainty analysis of a numerical approach applied for evaluating the power absorption of a hinged wave energy converter. The main goal of this paper is to uncover the effects of uncertainties in the absorbed power as the final numerical model output. This model is used for the validation of the experimental study. The numerical model is created according to the size and scale of a model used in a test campaign using boundary element method software to calculate the hydrodynamic forces and moments in surge, heave, and pitch degrees of freedom. The results are then transformed to the pitch motion around hinged point. This process includes uncertainties associated with various geometrical and testing parameters. Type A and Type B uncertainties are identified in the model inputs based on to their sources. Then, Monte Carlo simulation approach is utilized to analyse the propagation of uncertainty in the input parameters to the model output which is the average absorbed power of the device.