Application of a buoyancy-modified k-ω SST turbulence model to simulate wave run-up around a monopile subjected to regular waves using OpenFOAM®

The objective of the present work is to investigate wave run-up around a monopile subjected to regular waves inside a numerical wave flume using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) toolbox OpenFOAM®. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence modelling is performed by applying the k-ω SST model. Boundary conditions for wave generation and absorption are adopted from the IHFOAM toolbox. Simulations of propagating water waves show sometimes excessive wave damping (i.e. a significant decrease in wave height over the length of the numerical wave flume) based on RANS turbulence modelling. This anomaly is prevented by implementing a buoyancy term in the turbulent kinetic energy equation. The additional term suppresses the turbulence level at the interface between water and air. The proposed buoyancy-modified k-ω SST turbulence model results in an overall stable wave propagation model without significant wave damping over the length of the flume. Firstly, the necessity of a buoyancy-modified k-ω SST turbulence model is demonstrated for the case of propagating water waves in an empty wave flume. Secondly, numerical results of wave run-up around a monopile under regular waves using the buoyancy-modified k-ω SST turbulence model are validated by using experimental data measured in a wave flume by De Vos et al. (2007). Furthermore, time-dependent high spatial resolutions of the numerically obtained wave run-up around the monopile are presented. These results are in line with the experimental data and available analytical formulations.