SPH study of the evolution of water–water interfaces in dam break flows

The mixing process of upstream and downstream waters in the dam break flow could generate significant ecological impact on the downstream reaches and influence the environmental damages caused by the dam break flood. This is not easily investigated with the analytical and numerical models based on the grid method due to the large deformation of free surface and the water-water interface. In this paper, a weakly compressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (WCSPH) solver is used to study the advection and mixing process of the water bodies in two-dimensional dam-break flows over a wet bed. The numerical results of the mixing dynamics immediately after the release of the dam water are found to agree satisfactorily with the published experimental and numerical results. Then further investigations are carried out to study the interface development at the later stage of dambreak flows in a long channel. The analyses concentrate on the evolution of the interface at different ratios between the upstream and downstream water depths. The potential capabilities of the mesh-free SPH modelling approach for predicting the detailed development of the water-water interfaces are fully demonstrated.The first author acknowledges the Jafar Studentship during her PhD study at the University of Cambridge. The other authors acknowledge the support of the Major State Basic Research Development Program (973) of China (No. 2013CB036402), Open Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University (SKHL1404; SKHL1409), Start-up Grant for the Young Teachers of Sichuan University (2014SCU11056) and National Science and Technology Support Plan (2012BAB0513B0).This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11069-015-1726-6

A coupled hydrodynamic-structural model of the M4 wave energy converter

A method is developed for modelling wave energy converters consisting of floats connected by slender structural elements. The hydrodynamic and structural dynamic analyses are separated in a two-stage process, though the model is fully coupled. The method of dynamic substructuring is used to achieve this separation. The linear diffraction/radiation problem is solved with a finite element idealisation for axisymmetric floats, and drag forces are incorporated by equivalent linearization. Results for a planar representation of the M4 device, and comparisons of theory and experiments undertaken for two scale models tested in regular and random waves, confirm the validity of the theoretical approach. A series of parametric studies is performed to clarify the important physical variables, including natural periods, the ratio of a characteristic length of the device to the wave length, and power take-off

Flow kinematics of focused wave groups on a plane beach in the UK Coastal Research Facility

Measurements are presented of the water particle kinematics of focused wave groups generated in the U.K. Coastal Research Facility. Single and repeated wave groups are considered at normal and 20° incidence to a 1:20 plane beach. The single focused wave groups model extreme transient events without the complication of reflections during the data acquisition process. A symmetry-based separation of harmonics method is used to interpret the water particle kinematics at the point of focus. Although the largest component is linear, there are also considerable second order kinematics terms (both low frequency and high frequency). Away from the free surface, the 2nd order difference contribution to the kinematics is a return current opposed to the direction of wave advance. For repeated wave groups, the measured kinematics confirms the presence of a low frequency free wave, followed by higher frequency waves of the main group and trailing higher order harmonic waves. In the breaker and surf zones, there is also evidence of the saw-tooth behaviour of broken waves, followed by scatter due to breaker-induced turbulence. Pulsatile wave breaking of repeated wave groups at oblique incidence is found to drive a longshore current. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Boussinesq modelling of wavegroup propagation over a shallow shoal and the release of second order and higher harmonics

A numerical model of wavegroup propagation over varying bathymetry is used to study the evolution of a wavegroup generated from a Pierson-Moskowitz spectrum as it passes over a shallow shoal. The numerical model is shock capturing and can simulate both wave breaking and subsequent smooth re-formation. Results are presented for a wavegroup propagating over shoals of different sizes. The generation and release of bound harmonies due to the depth change are studied, along with the effects of wave breaking on the shoal. A method of analyzing the signal by summing and differencing results from wavegroups of different phase is used to determine the order of magnitude of the harmonic components and also to classify them as either bound or free