Numerical Simulation of Random Wave Overtopping of Rubble Mound Breakwater with Armor Units

Based on the open source code OpenFOAM, a three-dimensional model is presented for simulation of the interaction between waves and rubble mound breakwater with armor units. The armor units with their real geometries are depicted through computational grids. The volume-averaged RANS equation and the seepage equation containing nonlinear term are used to describe the percolation in the core and underlayer of the breakwater. Grids independence analysis are carried out, the horizontal and vertical grid size are recommended to take as one-fifteenth of the mean nominal diameter D-50 of the armor units and one-fifteenth of the wave height respectively. Random wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwater with armor units is simulated through the proposed model. The results show good agreement between the simulated and measured overtopping discharge rates for different types of armor units. The developed numerical model can be used to evaluate the random wave overtopping in design of rubble mound breakwater with artificial armor blocs.

Automated summary

A three-dimensional model is developed based on the open source code OpenFOAM to simulate the interaction between waves and rubble mound breakwater with armor units. The model shows good agreement with measured data and can be used to evaluate random wave overtopping in the design of such breakwaters.