Numerical analysis of the internal kinematics and dynamics of 3-D breaking waves on slopes

Abstract

In this paper we describe the development and validation of a numerical model based on coupling a higher-order Boundary Element Method (BEM) solution of fully nonlinear potential flow equations to a Volume Of Fluid (VOF) solution of Euler equations, in 3 dimensions (3-D). The BEM solution is used as an initialization of the VOF/Navier-Stokes solver. Numerical simulations of breaking waves on sloping beaches for 2-D (using an earlier similar model) and 3-D flows are carried out. Finally, we simulate the breaking and post-breaking of a solitary wave over a sloping ridge in a 3-D numerical wave tank. We present an analysis of wave profiles and internal kinematics (velocity, vorticity, pressure). Copyright © by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.