Numerical Study of Wave Impact Loads on a Circular Cylinder by Breaking Waves

Abstract

In this study, numerical studies were carried out on the wave impact loads on a circular cylinder by breaking waves. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed based on the model test observations where three different waves, i.e. steep, spilling, plunging waves, were generated to measure the wave impact forces acting on a truncated circular cylinder. For the validation, the numerical simulation results were directly compared with the model test data. After the wave hits on the truncated circular cylinder in the steep wave, a wave run-up phenomenon is occurred in front of the truncated circular cylinder. In case of the spilling wave condition, the impact force peaks are changed in accordance with the truncated circular cylinder locations. In the plunging wave tests, impact force time histories by the model tests can be categorized three types. It can be found that only one peak of the impact force is occurred in numerical simulations. All of the phenomena as well as the impact force time histories by the numerical simulations are in good agreement with the model test results.