Abstract
Abstract. A numerical model, ISWFoam, for simulating internal solitary waves (ISWs) in continuously stratified, incompressible, viscous fluids is developed based on a fully three-dimensional (3D) Navier–Stokes equation using the open-source code OpenFOAM®. This model combines the density transport equation with the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation with the Coriolis force, and the model discrete equation adopts the finite-volume method. The k–ω SST turbulence model has also been modified according to the variable density field. ISWFoam provides two initial wave generation methods to generate an ISW in continuously stratified fluids, including solving the weakly nonlinear models of the extended Korteweg–de Vries (eKdV) equation and the fully nonlinear models of the Dubreil–Jacotin–Long (DJL) equation. Grid independence tests for ISWFoam are performed, and considering the accuracy and computing efficiency, the appropriate grid size of the ISW simulation is recommended to be 1/150th of the characteristic length and 1/25th of the ISW amplitude. Model verifications are conducted through comparisons between the simulated and experimental data for ISW propagation examples over a flat bottom section, including laboratory scale and actual ocean scale, a submerged triangular ridge, a Gaussian ridge, and slope. The laboratory test results, including the ISW profile, wave breaking location, ISW arrival time, and the spatial and temporal changes in the mixture region, are well reproduced by ISWFoam. The ISWFoam model with unstructured grids and local mesh refinement can effectively simulate the evolution of ISWs, the ISW breaking phenomenon, waveform inversion of ISWs, and the interaction between ISWs and complex topography.
Highlights
Internal solitary waves (ISWs) are commonly observed in oceans, in continental shelf regions, due to strong tidal current flows over large topographic features (Huthnance, 1981), such as in the northern South China Sea (Alford et al, 2010, 2015; Cai et al, 2012)
The boundary conditions related to the density field are no-flux boundary conditions
A numerical model referred to as ISWFoam with a modified k–ω stress transport (SST) model, established by combining the density transport equation with a fully three-dimensional (3D) Navier–Stokes equation, is developed to simulate ISWs in continuously stratified, incompressible, viscous fluids based on the finite-volume method with unstructured grids and local mesh refinement of OpenFOAM
Summary
Internal solitary waves (ISWs) are commonly observed in oceans, in continental shelf regions, due to strong tidal current flows over large topographic features (Huthnance, 1981), such as in the northern South China Sea (Alford et al, 2010, 2015; Cai et al, 2012). The main objective of this paper is to develop a solver, referred to as ISWFoam with a modified k–ω SST model that considers the variable density field, which simulates the ISW in continuously stratified, incompressible and viscous fluids using the finitevolume method with unstructured grids based on a fully three-dimensional (3D) Navier–Stokes equation using the OpenFOAM® library. ISWFoam will provide two initial methods to generate an ISW in continuously stratified fluids, including solving the weakly nonlinear models of the extended Korteweg–de Vries (eKdV) equation and the fully nonlinear models of the Dubreil–Jacotin–Long (DJL) equation This approach renders the numerical model suitable for the simulation of ISW flows in complex geometries and topographies.
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