Numerical simulation with a macroscopic CFD method and experimental analysis of wave interaction with fixed porous cylinder structures

• Published in: Marine structures 2021-11, Vol.80, p.103096, Article 103096
• Main Authors: Qiao, Dongsheng, Mackay, Ed, Yan, Jun, Feng, Changlong, Li, Binbin, Feichtner, Anna, Ning, Dezhi, Johanning, Lars
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary element method; Coastal engineering; Columnar structure; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer applications; Cylinders; Energy dissipation; Energy exchange; Fluid dynamics; Hydrodynamics; Incident waves; Macroscopic CFD method; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Model tests; Ocean engineering; Offshore engineering; Offshore structures; Porosity; Porous cylinder; Pressure drop; Quadratic pressure drop; Simulation; Wave energy; Wave forces; Wave height; Wave interaction; Wave power; Wave-structure interaction
• ISSN: 0951-8339; 1873-4170
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2021.103096

Porous structures have been widely applied in the coastal and ocean engineering due to their wave energy dissipation mechanism. The macroscopic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach where the quadratic pressure drop condition of porous surface is introduced to model the wave interaction with porous cylinders. A series of CFD simulations of waves interacting with a single porous cylinder and the combined structure of a porous cylinder with a concentric inner solid column are performed, with corresponding tank tests conducted. The CFD method is compared with experiments, linear potential model, and the quadratic BEM (boundary element method) model. The effects of porosity and porous cylinder radius on wave force and wave heights inside porous cylinder are analyzed to evaluate the performance of porous shell reducing wave loads and wave surface elevation, and the wave force variation with incident wave amplitudes are also investigated. The results demonstrate that the established CFD model is reliable for engineering analysis and thereby being of great significance for reference purpose in the CFD simulations of waves interacting with porous structures. •A macroscopic CFD model for simulating the wave interaction with the fixed porous cylinder structures is established.•The effects of geometrical parameters of porous cylinder structures on wave force and wave surface elevation are analyzed.•The variation of wave force with increased incident wave amplitude are studied.