Numerical simulation of propagation and breaking processes of a focused waves group

A two-dimensional numerical wave flume is developed to study the focused waves group propagation and the consequent breaking processes. The numerical model is based on the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, with the standard k – ɛ turbulence model to simulate the turbulence effects. To track the complicated and broken free-surface, the Volume Of Fluid (VOF) method is employed. The numerical model combines the “Partial Cell Treatment (PCT)” method with the “Locally Relative Stationary (LRS)” concept to treat the moving wave paddle so that various waves can be generated directly in a fixed Cartesian grid system. The theoretical results of the linear and nonlinear waves are used to validate the numerical wave flume firstly, and then a plunging breaking wave created by a focused waves group is simulated. The numerical results are compared to the experimental data and other simulation results, with very good agreements. The turbulence intensity, the flow field and the energy dissipation in the breaking processes are analyzed based on the numerical results. It is shown that the present numerical model is efficient and accurate for studying the waves group generation, the waves packet propagation, and the wave breaking processes.