A 3D RANS-VOF wave tank for oscillating water column device studies

Abstract

This paper presents the validation of a wave maker with active absorption method implemented in FLUENT® RANS-VOF code for modelling long time series of waves propagating and interacting with coastal structures, more specifically, with Oscillating Water Column devices, to cancel out the reflected wave that reaches the wave maker. Verification of the numerical technique was performed in a 3D wave tank in which a technique of multiple active absorption wave makers was used. Good results were obtained in quasi-3D and fully-3D applications showing that active absorption should be used for modelling accurately the complex interaction between wave and coastal structures, in the present case, with an oscillating water column device integrated in a vertical breakwater.