scott wrote:
>> And I saw a program about "freak waves". Apparently these occur with a 
>> frequency vastly higher than predicted by the standard model. 
>> (Standard model assumes a normal distribution, which means a wave of 
>> this size should happen once every few millennia.) Apparently some 
>> solution to the Schrowonakiarlumlum wave equation predicts this, but 
>> nobody noticed before. And now the redesign implications are quite 
>> staggering. Or something...
> 
> Yeh wouldn't surprise me.  Although I'm sure, as with most structural 
> engineering, once you have calculated how strong to make something you 
> just multiply it by 2 to be on the safe side :-)

True.

OTOH, if you've expecting a maximum wave hight of X, you design to 
withstand 2X, and then suddenly a 12X have hits... hmm, Not Good(tm).

Oh, actually...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freak_wave


right! ;-)

PS. Don't you ever hit a point where it's not possible to design for 2x 
the maximum? Or do you just decide not to build the thing at all at this 
point?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message