A Modified k – ε Turbulence Model for a Wave Breaking Simulation

Abstract

We propose a two-equation turbulence model based on modification of the k − ε standard model, for simulation of a breaking wave. The proposed model is able to adequately simulate the energy dissipation due to the wave breaking and does not require any “a priori” criterion to locate the initial wave breaking point and the region in which the turbulence model has to be activated. In order to numerically simulate the wave propagation from deep water to the shoreline and the wave breaking, we use a model in which vector and tensor quantities are expressed in terms of Cartesian components, where only the vertical coordinate is expressed as a function of a time-dependent curvilinear coordinate that follows the free surface movements. A laboratory test is numerically reproduced with the aim of validating the turbulence modified k − ε model. The numerical results compared with the experimental measurements show that the proposed turbulence model is capable of correctly estimating the energy dissipation induced by the wave breaking, in order to avoid any underestimation of the wave height.