scholarly journals Extreme Wave Generation, Breaking and Impact Simulations With REEF3D

Author(s):  
Hans Bihs ◽  
Arun Kamath ◽  
Mayilvahanan Alagan Chella ◽  
Øivind A. Arntsen

An accurate description of extreme waves is necessary in order to estimate maximum wave forces on offshore structures. On several occasions freak waves have been observed in the past, some causing severe damage. In order to model such extreme wave conditions with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, emphasize needs to be put on the wave generation. One possibility is to use focused waves of first or second order based on irregular sea state wave spectra. For focused waves, the wave phase is chosen, so that the waves focus in a predetermined location at a specified time. Numerical tests have shown, that generating extreme waves based on this method is somewhat limited. The individual wave components are steep enough, that they start to break before the focus location. In the current paper, transient wave packets are used for extreme wave generation. This way, extreme waves can be generated that are higher, but only break at the concentration point. The transient wave packets method is implemented in the open-source CFD software REEF3D. This model uses the level set method for interface capturing. For the hydrodynamics, the Navier-Stokes equations are solved in three dimensions. The code employs a staggered Cartesian mesh, ensuring tight pressure-velocity coupling. Complex geometries are handled with a ghost cell immersed boundary method. High-performance computing is enabled through domain decomposition based parallelization. Convection discretization of the different flow variables is performed with the fifth-order WENO (weighted essentially non-oscillatory) scheme. For the explicit time treatment a third-order Runge-Kutta scheme is selected. In order to validate the extreme wave generation, numerical tests in an empty wave tank are performed and compared with experimental data. Then, the extreme wave breaking on a vertical circular cylinder is investigated.

Author(s):  
Hans Bihs ◽  
Arun Kamath ◽  
Mayilvahanan Alagan Chella ◽  
Øivind A. Arntsen

On several occasions, freak waves have been observed in the past, some causing severe damage. In order to model such extreme wave conditions, one possibility is to use focused waves of first- or second-order based on irregular sea-state wave spectra. The wave phase is chosen such that the waves focus at a predetermined location and time, but the individual wave components become steep and start breaking before the focus location for large amplitudes. In this study, transient wave packets are used for extreme wave generation. Extreme waves are generated that are higher and only break at the concentration point using the transient wave packets method implemented in the open-source CFD model REEF3D. Model validation is performed by comparison to experimental results. The generation of wave packets with an 8.3 times shorter focus distance is investigated and the wave is replicated in a shorter domain with a 9% higher crest. The method is further used to generate a steepness induced-breaking wave and calculation of extreme wave forces on an offshore structure is demonstrated.


Author(s):  
Andrew Cornett

Many deck-on-pile structures are located in shallow water depths at elevations low enough to be inundated by large waves during intense storms or tsunami. Many researchers have studied wave-in-deck loads over the past decade using a variety of theoretical, experimental, and numerical methods. Wave-in-deck loads on various pile supported coastal structures such as jetties, piers, wharves and bridges have been studied by Tirindelli et al. (2003), Cuomo et al. (2007, 2009), Murali et al. (2009), and Meng et al. (2010). All these authors analyzed data from scale model tests to investigate the pressures and loads on beam and deck elements subject to wave impact under various conditions. Wavein- deck loads on fixed offshore structures have been studied by Murray et al. (1997), Finnigan et al. (1997), Bea et al. (1999, 2001), Baarholm et al. (2004, 2009), and Raaij et al. (2007). These authors have studied both simplified and realistic deck structures using a mixture of theoretical analysis and model tests. Other researchers, including Kendon et al. (2010), Schellin et al. (2009), Lande et al. (2011) and Wemmenhove et al. (2011) have demonstrated that various CFD methods can be used to simulate the interaction of extreme waves with both simple and more realistic deck structures, and predict wave-in-deck pressures and loads.


Author(s):  
Eirini Katsidoniotaki ◽  
Edward Ransley ◽  
Scott Brown ◽  
Johannes Palm ◽  
Jens Engström ◽  
...  

Abstract Accurate modeling and prediction of extreme loads for survivability is of crucial importance if wave energy is to become commercially viable. The fundamental differences in scale and dynamics from traditional offshore structures, as well as the fact that wave energy has not converged around one or a few technologies, implies that it is still an open question how the extreme loads should be modeled. In recent years, several methods to model wave energy converters in extreme waves have been developed, but it is not yet clear how the different methods compare. The purpose of this work is the comparison of two widely used approaches when studying the response of a point-absorber wave energy converter in extreme waves, using the open-source CFD software OpenFOAM. The equivalent design-waves are generated both as equivalent regular waves and as focused waves defined using NewWave theory. Our results show that the different extreme wave modeling methods produce different dynamics and extreme forces acting on the system. It is concluded that for the investigation of point-absorber response in extreme wave conditions, the wave train dynamics and the motion history of the buoy are of high importance for the resulting buoy response and mooring forces.


2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 294-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl W. Schulz ◽  
Yannis Kallinderis

A generalized numerical method for solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in three-dimensions has been developed. This solution methodology allows for the accurate prediction of the hydrodynamic loads on offshore structures, which is then combined with a rigid body structural response to address the flow-structure coupling which is often present in offshore applications. Validation results using this method are first presented for fixed structures which compare the drag coefficients of sphere and cylinder geometries to experimental measurements over a range of subcritical Reynolds numbers. Additional fixed structure results are then presented which explore the influence of aspect ratio effects on the lift and drag coefficients of a bare circular cylinder. Finally, the spanwise flow variations between a fixed and freely vibrating cylindrical structure are compared to demonstrate the ability of the flow-structure method to correctly predict correlation length increases for a vibrating structure. [S0892-7219(00)00904-3]


2014 ◽  
Vol 764 ◽  
pp. 148-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Koehler ◽  
Philip Beran ◽  
Marcos Vanella ◽  
Elias Balaras

AbstractFlows produced by a circular cylinder undergoing oscillatory rotation and translation in a quiescent fluid have been studied via direct numerical simulations. The incompressible Navier–Stokes equations were solved for large dimensionless time windows using an immersed boundary method with adaptive Cartesian grid refinement. Parametric studies were conducted in two dimensions on the Reynolds number, Keulegan–Carpenter number and phase shift. In addition to the previously reported net thrust case (Blackburn et al., Phys. Fluids, vol. 11, 1999, pp. 4–6), the study catalogued the appearance of several streaming jet regimes with varying deflection angles, deflected and horizontal vortex shedding regimes, and a double mirrored jet regime with varying inter-jet angles, as well as several chaotic cases. Visualizations are presented to clarify each observed flow regime and to illustrate the parameter space. Connections are drawn between these canonical bluff-body deflected wakes and a similar phenomenon observed in aerofoils oscillating at high reduced frequencies in a cross-flow. Also, the discovery of the streaming jet regimes with varying deflection angles opens the door for using these flows as a low-Reynolds-number propulsive mechanism requiring only a two-degree-of-freedom actuator. Simulation results suggest that the flow phenomena observed in two dimensions persist in three dimensions, despite spanwise fluctuations.


Author(s):  
Amirmahdi Ghasemi ◽  
David J. Olinger ◽  
Gretar Tryggvason

In this paper, a numerical simulation of tether undersea kites (TUSK) used for power generation is undertaken. The effect of varying key design parameters in these systems is studied. TUSK systems consist of a rigid-winged kite, or glider, moving in an ocean current. One proposed TUSK concept uses a tethered kite which is connected by a flexible tether to a support structure with a generator on a surface buoy. The numerical simulation models the flow field in a three-dimensional domain near the rigid undersea kite wing by solving the full Navier-Stokes equations. A moving computational domain method is used to reduce the computational run times. A second-order corrector-predictor method, along with Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP), is employed to solve the flow equations. In order to track the rigid kite, which is a rectangular planform wing with a NACA 0021 airfoil, an immersed boundary method is used. The tension force in the elastic tether is modeled by a simple Hooke’s law, and the effect of tether damping is added. PID control methods are used to adjust the kite pitch, roll and yaw angles during power (tether reel-out) and retraction (reel-in) phases to obtain the desired kite trajectories. During the reel-out phase the kite moves in successive cross-current motions in a figure-8 pattern, the tether length increases and power is generated. During reel-in the kite motion is along the tether, and kite hydrodynamic forces are reduced so that net positive power is produced. The effects of different key design parameters in TUSK systems, such as the ratio of tether to current velocity, and tether retraction velocity, are then further studied. System power output, kite trajectories, and vorticity flow fields for the kite are also determined.


Author(s):  
Yu Chen ◽  
Yanling Wu ◽  
Graham Stewart ◽  
Johan Gullman-Strand ◽  
Xin Lu

Extreme wave impacts on the decks of offshore structures with insufficient air gap may cause damage or even collapse with safety, economic, and pollution consequences. In this study, the impact loads on a fixed platform deck have been predicted numerically by employing a Navier-Stokes solver with the free-surface captured by the volume of fluid (VOF) method. 3D numerical simulations of wave-deck interactions for long-crested extreme waves were performed. The simulations successfully captured the evolution of impact loads and free surface of the waves during the interaction with the platform deck. A detailed parametric analysis of wave-deck interactions showed significant differences in loads under various situations and confirmed the large magnitudes of the loads to be expected during impact. The results presented include a solid box and a more realistic case of under-deck beams. These provide a useful benchmark for predicting wave loadings on platform decks and through this research programme the longer term aim is to establish improved guidelines for assessing the risk of existing structures.


Author(s):  
Janou Hennig ◽  
Jule Scharnke ◽  
Chris Swan ◽  
Øistein Hagen ◽  
Kevin Ewans ◽  
...  

Long-crested waves are typically used in the design of offshore structures. However, the corresponding statistics, kinematics and loading are significantly different in short-crested waves and up to date, there is no state-of-the-art methodology to apply short-crested models instead. The objective of the “ShortCresT” Joint Industry Project was to take into account short-crestedness in the design of offshore structures against extreme waves based on a good description of their spectral characteristics, statistics, kinematics, breaking and loading and to deliver (empirical) design recommendations and methods. This paper gives an overview of the findings of ShorTCresT regarding wave crest and height distributions, a comparison of basin and field data, the role of wave breaking, the most realistic directional model, hindcast models as well as the related platform loading.


Author(s):  
S. G. Rajeev

The initial value problem of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations is explained. Leray’s classic study of it (using Picard iteration) is simplified and described in the language of physics. The ideas of Lebesgue and Sobolev norms are explained. The L2 norm being the energy, cannot increase. This gives sufficient control to establish existence, regularity and uniqueness in two-dimensional flow. The L3 norm is not guaranteed to decrease, so this strategy fails in three dimensions. Leray’s proof of regularity for a finite time is outlined. His attempts to construct a scale-invariant singular solution, and modern work showing this is impossible, are then explained. The physical consequences of a negative answer to the regularity of Navier–Stokes solutions are explained. This chapter is meant as an introduction, for physicists, to a difficult field of analysis.


Author(s):  
Xin Lu ◽  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
Anand Bahuguni ◽  
Yanling Wu

The design of offshore structures for extreme/abnormal waves assumes that there is sufficient air gap such that waves will not hit the platform deck. Due to inaccuracies in the predictions of extreme wave crests in addition to settlement or sea-level increases, the required air gap between the crest of the extreme wave and the deck is often inadequate in existing platforms and therefore wave-in-deck loads need to be considered when assessing the integrity of such platforms. The problem of wave-in-deck loading involves very complex physics and demands intensive study. In the Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFD) approach, two critical issues must be addressed, namely the efficient, realistic numerical wave maker and the accurate free surface capturing methodology. Most reported CFD research on wave-in-deck loads consider regular waves only, for instance the Stokes fifth-order waves. They are, however, recognized by designers as approximate approaches since “real world” sea states consist of random irregular waves. In our work, we report a recently developed focused extreme wave maker based on the NewWave theory. This model can better approximate the “real world” conditions, and is more efficient than conventional random wave makers. It is able to efficiently generate targeted waves at a prescribed time and location. The work is implemented and integrated with OpenFOAM, an open source platform that receives more and more attention in a wide range of industrial applications. We will describe the developed numerical method of predicting highly non-linear wave-in-deck loads in the time domain. The model’s capability is firstly demonstrated against 3D model testing experiments on a fixed block with various deck orientations under random waves. A detailed loading analysis is conducted and compared with available numerical and measurement data. It is then applied to an extreme wave loading test on a selected bridge with multiple under-deck girders. The waves are focused extreme irregular waves derived from NewWave theory and JONSWAP spectra.


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