Simulation of wave overtopping by an incompressible SPH model

Abstract

The paper presents an incompressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model to investigate the wave overtopping of coastal structures. The SPH method is a grid-less Lagrangian approach which is capable of tracking the large deformations of the free surface with good accuracy. The incompressible algorithm of the model is implemented by enforcing the constant particle density in the pressure projection. The SPH model is employed to reproduce a transient wave overtopping over a fixed horizontal deck and the regular/irregular waves overtopping of a sloping seawall. The computations are validated against the experimental and numerical data and a good agreement is observed. The SPH modelling is shown to provide a promising tool to predict the overtopping characteristics of different waves. The present model is expected to be of practical purpose if further improvement in the spatial resolution and CPU time can be adequately made.