Uncertainty assessment in wave elevation measurement

Experimental data for the validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics results need an evaluation of the accuracy. Uncertainty assessment applied to the measure of the wave field generated by a combatant model is performed in this experimental work. The application of uncertainty assessment to a parameter changing in space (or in time) with zero averaged value gives some interesting point of discussion, especially about the bias and precision limit characterization and the error normalization. Moreover, in this particular case, it can give indications about some relevant characteristics of the wave field. For example the relatively high precision limit (bad accuracy), in the region close to the model, highlights random fluctuations associated to the free surface turbulence or wave breaking. Finally the individuation of the zones, where the bias and precision limit are the lowest, allows realizing with better accuracy the determination of the wave making resistance by longitudinal cut method.