Modeling of Breaking and Post-breaking Waves on Slopes by Coupling of BEM and VOF Methods

Abstract

We study the shoaling, breaking, and post-breaking of waves, in two dimensions, using a model, i.e., a Numerical Wave Tank, based on coupling a Boundary Element Model, solving potential flow equations, to a Volume Of Fluid model, solving Navier-Stokes equations. We apply the model to calculating the transformation of solitary waves over plane slopes. We compare results to existing laboratory experiments. The agreement is quite good between computations and measurements. Finally, we compute properties of waves breaking over various slopes, such as shape, internal velocities and type of breaking.