Abstract
A multiphase flow numerical approach for performing large-eddy simulations of three-dimensional (3D) wave-structure interaction is presented in this study. The approach combines a volume-of-fluid method to capture the air-water interface and a Cartesian cut-cell method to deal with complex geometries. The filtered Navier–Stokes equations are discretised by the finite volume method with the PISO algorithm for velocity-pressure coupling and the dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid-scale model is used to compute the unresolved (subgrid) scales of turbulence. The versatility and robustness of the presented numerical approach are illustrated by applying it to solve various three-dimensional wave-structure interaction problems featuring complex geometries, such as a 3D travelling wave in a closed channel, a 3D solitary wave interacting with a vertical circular cylinder, a 3D solitary wave interacting with a horizontal thin plate, and a 3D focusing wave impacting on an FPSO-like structure. For all cases, convincing agreement between the numerical predictions and the corresponding experimental data and/or analytical or numerical solutions is obtained. In addition, for all cases, water surface profiles and turbulent vortical structures are presented and discussed.
Highlights
It is believed that extreme waves will become more common in coastal and offshore region due to climate change [1]
The large-eddy simulation (LES) approach [59] is adopted in this study, for which the large-scale turbulence is resolved and a subgrid-scale model is employed to compute the unresolved scales of turbulence
The validation of the cutcell method is demonstrated by studying several 3D wavestructure interaction problems, such as a solitary wave traveling over a vertical circular cylinder, a solitary wave traveling over a horizontal thin plate, and a focusing wave impacting on an FPSOlike structure
Summary
It is believed that extreme waves will become more common in coastal and offshore region due to climate change [1]. Detailed engineering understanding of wave-structure interaction (WSI) is a key aspect in the safe and cost-effective design of coastal and offshore structures, and marine renewable devices. Reliable numerical tools are required to predict WSI and assess the reliability and survivability of these structures due to extreme wave loads. In order to roughly predict hydrodynamic loads on structures, empirical or semi-empirical methods such as the Morison equation [3] or the Froude-Krylov method [4] have been used in engineering applications. These methods ignore the effect of the structure and are only applicable to very simple problems
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