Numerical investigation of breaking wave loads on the downstream inclined cylinder under shelter effect from the upstream vertical cylinder

Abstract

Breaking waves interaction with two tandem cylinders are numerically studied using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) software OpenFOAM. The effects of transverse inclined angles of the downstream cylinder and separation distances between two cylinders on breaking wave loads and free surface elevations are investigated. The interface between air and water phases is captured by the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method. The Shear Stress Transport k − v(SST k − v) turbulence model is employed to solve the incompressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The present numerical model is validated against published experimental data by examining the horizontal breaking wave loads and free surface elevations of breaking waves past a vertical cylinder and an inclined cylinder. In the present incident wave conditions, the breaking wave force on the downstream cylinder decreases first and then increases with the transverse inclined angle varying from 0o to 30o, while it shows an opposite trend versus the distance between cylinders. The maximum breaking wave load on the downstream cylinder occurs when the it is installed vertically with a separation distance of four times diameter.