A Boussinesq-Type Model for Nonlinear Wave-Heaving Cylinder Interaction

Abstract

In the present work, a Boussinesq-type numerical model is developed for the simulation of nonlinear wave-heaving cylinder interaction. The wave model is able to describe the propagation of fully dispersive and weakly nonlinear waves over any finite water depth. The wave-cylinder interaction is taken into account by solving simultaneously an elliptic equation that determines the pressure exerted by the fluid on the floating body. The heave motion for the partially immersed floating cylinder under the action of waves is obtained by solving numerically the body’s equation of motion in the z direction based on Newton’s law. The developed model is applied for the case of a fixed and a free-floating circular cylinder under the action of regular waves, as well as for a free-floating cylinder undergoing a forced motion in heave. Results (heave and surge exciting forces, heave motions, and wave elevation) are compared with those obtained using a frequency domain numerical model, which is based on the boundary integral equation method.