Study of the force coefficients on plates using an open source numerical wave tank

An open source numerical wave tank based on the OpenFOAM® software was setup and tested to solve the Navier-Stokes equations. This work focused on submerged plates because of their simple geometry, their importance as a design component (e.g., heave plates), and the broad availability of published experimental results. Two-dimensional plates in an oscillatory flow, as well as three-dimensional circular disks and square plates undergoing forced oscillations were simulated in conditions where the nonlinearity of hydrodynamic viscous drag and inertia forces can be probed easily. The effect of plate thickness as well as the ability of the numerical simulations to predict wave radiation damping at shallow plate submergence were also considered. Overall, force coefficient predictions were very satisfactory when compared to experimental data, and generally exhibited less scatter. The influence of both Keulegan-Carpenter number and frequency parameter on the hydrodynamic force could be assessed as well from these numerical simulations as from past laboratory experiments.