Numerical simulations of water wave problems with current effect

Abstract

Two-dimensional Rankine source model is developed to examine wave–current problems. The resulting wave–current interaction problem is separated into steady and unsteady potential problems. The former problem accounts for the current passing a fixed body, whereas the latter describes the wave interaction with the current through the modification of the free surface boundary conditions. Both steady and unsteady problems are solved using a boundary element model, incorporating a continuous Rankine source panel. The proposed method results are compared with the published data and a reasonably good agreement is obtained. Numerical results show that the current has noticeable effects on the global responses and pressure distribution, and these effects vary in different aspects for both radiation and diffraction problems.