Numerical simulation of interaction between wind and 2D freak waves

This paper presents a newly developed approach for the numerical modelling of wind effects on the generation and dynamics of freak waves. In this approach, the quasi arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element method (QALE-FEM) developed by the authors of this paper is combined with a commercial software (StarCD). The former is based on the fully nonlinear potential model, in which the wind-excited pressure is modelled using a modified Jeffreys' model [9]. The latter has a volume of fluid (VOF) solver which can handle violent air-wave interaction problems. The combination can simulate the interaction between freak waves and winds with an improved computational efficiency. The numerical approach is validated by comparing its predictions with experimental data. Satisfactory agreements are achieved. Detailed numerical investigations of the interaction between winds and 2D freak waves are carried out, which not only explore different air flow states but also reveal the wind effects on the change of freak wave profiles. Both breaking and non-breaking freak waves are considered. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.