Finite difference method for 2-D and 3-D nonlinear free surface wave problems

A finite difference method is developed for the numerical modelling of the 2-D and 3-D unsteady potential flow generated by transient disturbances on the free surface, on which the nonlinear boundary conditions are fully satisfied. The unknown function is computed with an iteration scheme processing in a transformed time-invariant space. After the velocity is calculated, the location of the free surface is renewed and so is the value of velocity on it. The boundary-value problem of the governing equation is then solved at the next time step. The present method incorporates the FFT. Consequently, a tri-diagonal equation system is obtained which could be readily solved. The feasibility of this method has been demonstrated by 2-D and 3-D examples corresponding to different initial disturbances. This work is supported by the science foundation of Academia Sinica. The paper had been accepted by the XVIth International Congress of IUTAM, Lyngby, Denmark, August, 1984.