Abstract
Based on linear wave theory, two ways of simulating wave records from target spectral densities are implemented in order to assess their impact on the estimation of the mean power extracted from waves by a resonant Wave Energy Converter (WEC). The first one directly comes from the random Gaussian wave representation, while the second – widely used – derives from this latter by abusively neglecting the random nature of the individual wave amplitudes in the frequency-domain. This study investigates the consequences of such an abuse upon the device’s response estimation through the consideration of various – linear and non-linear – numerical models, and the possible improvements of the simulation time/precision compromise for further WEC design projects.