Abstract
Accurate prediction of wave loads from extreme waves on individual beams in offshore jacket structures are important to ensure the structural integrity. As the load distribution along a beam is strongly tied to the wave kinematics it is crucial to have an accurate prediction of the surface elevation and the velocity field.
The open-source CFD code OpenFOAM contains two solution algorithms (interFoam and interIsoFoam), which are used for ocean wave simulations and wave load predictions. The algorithms are often applied using a too coarse spatial discretisation, which violates the assumption of a continuous solution at the free surface. The consequence is inaccurate and unphysical predictions even for propagation of a steady wave.
Our recently developed Direct Surface Description (DSD) solution algorithm in OpenFOAM is used to simulate a solitary wave with different cell aspect ratios. The solitary wave case shows that the DSD method provides accurate velocity fields and surface elevations both for square and horizontally elongated cells.
