Wave generation and wave–structure impact modelling with WCSPH

The reliable prediction of plunging wave induced load, which represents a challenging task in offshore engineering, is of key relevance for the safety of existing offshore structures as well for the reliable design of new ones. This work shows the early advances in the development of a FOSS derived model, obtained by independently introducing relevant modifications in the original model SPHERA v.9.0.0 (RSE SpA) based on the Weakly Compressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (WCSPH) method. This derived model is validated on single-phase laboratory flume tests from technical literature (i.e., dam break and regular waves) and on a laboratory flume test of plunging wave impacting an offshore structure. The derived model allows modelling two-phase flows with a large density ratio, as shown by an additional two-phase dam break simulation. Therefore it seems promising for application to two-phase plunging impact to improve the prediction of impact load on the structure.