Linear absorbing boundary conditions for surface water wave propagation

Summary The meaning of linear absorbing boundary conditions for periodic water waves in elliptical approaches is discussed. It is found that the direction of propagation of the waves must be known for reliable boundary conditions and that the energy dissipation of waves running parallel to a boundary in general cannot be modelled in the framework of a linear theory. Work presented at the Euromech Colloquium 240 on ?Dispersive waves in dissipative fluids?, Bologna, August 30–September 2, 1988.