Towards a more complete tool for coastal engineering: solitary wave generation, propagation and breaking in an SPH-based model

ABSTRACT

The present work describes the implementation of an advanced solitary wave generation system in the mesh-less SPH-based DualSPHysics model to simulate tsunami-like solitary waves. Three different generation theories have been implemented and are extended to generate multiple solitary waves. The numerical model is validated against theoretical solutions and physical model results from three different experimental campaigns, which investigated respectively: i) the forces exerted on harbour protections; ii) the run-up of solitary waves on a gentle beach; and iii) the impact of double solitary waves on two cylindrical reservoirs. The differences of modelling breaking and non-breaking wave conditions are highlighted. The results demonstrate the capability of DualSPHysics to represents the main hydrodynamic properties of solitary waves when interacting with the shoreline or with coastal structures. The applicability of DualSPHysics to coastal engineering problems is enhanced, being the model already capable of generating monochromatic waves and random sea states.

KEYWORDS:

• Solitary waves
• SPH
• DualSPHysics
• wave-structure interaction
• wave generation

Acknowledgments

This work was partially financed by Xunta de Galicia (Spain) under project ED431C 2017/64 “Programa de Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas (Grupos de Referencia Competitiva)” cofunded by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). The work was also funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Government of Spain under project “WELCOME ENE2016-75074-C2-1-R” and by EU under ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) under Interreg project “MarRISK” (0262_MARRISK_1_E). Part of the data presented in this research has been gathered in the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Program, supported by the National Science Foundation under the award CMMI-1519679.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Xunta de Galicia (Spain); [ED431C 2017/64]; Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Government of Spain under project “WELCOME ENE2016-75074-C2-1-R” and by EU under ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) under Interreg project “MarRISK” (0262_MARRISK_1_E); National Science Foundation; [CMMI-1519679].