Three-Dimensional Periodic Fully Nonlinear Potential Waves

Abstract

An exact numerical scheme for a long-term simulation of three-dimensional potential fully-nonlinear periodic gravity waves is suggested. The scheme is based on a surface-following non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system and does not use the technique based on expansion of the velocity potential. The Poisson equation for the velocity potential is solved iteratively. The Fourier transform method, the second-order accuracy approximation of the vertical derivatives on a stretched vertical grid and the fourth-order Runge-Kutta time stepping are used. The scheme is validated by simulation of steep Stokes waves. The model requires considerable computer resources, but the one-processor version of the model for PC allows us to simulate an evolution of a wave field with thousands degrees of freedom for hundreds of wave periods. The scheme is designed for investigation of the nonlinear two-dimensional surface waves, for generation of extreme waves as well as for the direct calculations of a nonlinear interaction rate. After implementation of the wave breaking parameterization and wind input, the model can be used for the direct simulation of a two-dimensional wave field evolution under the action of wind, nonlinear wave-wave interactions and dissipation. The model can be used for verification of different types of simplified models.