Numerical simulation of nonlinear wave and force generated by a wedge-shape wave maker

Nonlinear waves and forces induced by a wedge-shape wave maker were simulated in a potential-theory-based fully nonlinear 2D Numerical Wave Tank (NWT). The NWT is developed in a time domain by using Boundary Element Method (BEM) including Mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian method (MEL) and Runge-Kutta 4th-order (RK4) integration as a time marching process. For ensuring accurate nonlinear free surface both material-node and semi-Lagrangian approach are independently developed for crosschecking. The acceleration-potential scheme is used for obtaining accurate time derivative of velocity potential. The developed NWT is utilized to calculate water particle velocity and a series of higher-harmonic force components on the wave maker. The added-mass and radiation-damping coefficients of the wave maker are also obtained from the least-square method. The simulation results are compared with the experimental and numerical results of other researchers. To compare the relative importance of free-surface and body-surface nonlinearities, a body nonlinear formulation is independently developed. Force by body nonlinear method is in good agreement with fully nonlinear result in case of low body-stroke frequency. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.