Analysis of viscous wave generation at low Ursell number in an optimal numerical wave tank using inlet velocity method

Abstract

The present study analyzes the viscous wave generation at a low Ursell number in an optimal numerical wave tank. Commercial computational fluid dynamics code ANSYS FLUENT software is used in a two-dimensional numerical wave tank in this model. The finite volume method is a discretization technique to solve the Reynolds-average Navier–Stokes equations. The inlet velocity method is used to generate the desired waves. The standard k–ε turbulent model is used for the verification. Viscous models were tested at a constant water depth ( d) under 12 cases to complete the analysis. Surface elevation, wave velocities, velocity contour, and streamlined motions are important studies in this problem. Simulating result shows that the wave velocities ( u, w) at the free surface ( z = 0) increase with the wave steepness ( H/L) at a particular time period ( T) and gradually decrease from the free surface ( z = 0) toward the bottom of the water ( z =  −  d). Many practical systems, such as wave energy converters, offshore marine constructions, and other ocean engineering challenges, may benefit significantly from this research's realistic wave creation. This analysis of different periods gives the knowledge of flow behavior which provides the previous test of the scale model.