Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Breaking Waves on Structures

This work deals with the analytical and numerical simulation of the loads on cylindrical offshore structures due to breaking waves. We investigate breaking waves impact on a cylindrical structure on the surface of the water by using a multiphase flow model of immiscible fluids based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method. Different numerical schemes are applied to identify the sharp interface between water and gas. The results are compared as well with the already existing experimental, analytical and numerical studies by [1-3]. The agreement shows that the analytical and numerical models are suited to describe the experimental results. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)