Profilometry: a non-intrusive active stereo-vision technique for wave-profile measurements in large hydrodynamic laboratories

Profilometry is proposed as a novel non-intrusive image-based technique to capture the profile of the air–water interface as a dense point cloud. It can be classified as an active stereo-vision method applied to the study of gravity-driven water waves and specifically developed to be used in large hydrodynamic laboratories. As an active vision technique, it relies on the use of light sources, and as a stereo technique, it requires one or more high-speed camera pairs for imaging the same scene synchronously. To enhance the visibility of the laser lights on the wave profile, the water surface is sprayed with water droplets. Profilometry, compared to standard wave probes, can be considered as an alternative source of information that can augment spatial resolution to the identification of the air–water interface to capture nonlinear wave-evolution mechanisms and violent wave–body interactions. Its feasibility and accuracy are examined preliminarily in a small-scale flume and then in a large-scale towing tank using long-crested wave scenarios, including regular, irregular, and focused gravity-driven waves, without the presence of a structure. The values of the wave steepness examined were various and included also quite steep cases with nearly vertical wave fronts. Role played by parameters of the technique, as well as of its setup in capturing the wave features are also analysed, with the aim to provide a useful guidance for other researchers that intent to use and develop further this approach.