Interactive wave-structure impacts in aerated water

Abstract

Marine structures can sustain damage due to violent wave impacts that are characterized by complex dynamics involving both water and air. Methods that predict impacts loads for structural design often assume the water as incompressible. These predictions can be inaccurate during impacts where air is entrained in water, as that greatly increases its compressibility. Initial impact forces may decrease due to a cushioning effect. However, the total severity of the impact may increase due to temporal spreading and oscillations of impact pressure. Previous research on aerated water impacts covers breaking waves against fixed structures, flat water slamming or green water events, but not the interactive motion of rigid marine structures in free surface waves. This work aims to evaluate the effect of aerated water impacts on the dynamics of floating rigid bodies in irregular waves. As a part of this work, a state-of-the-art numerical simulation method for aerated water impacts is extended with a monolithic coupling for rigid body motion. Additionally, boundary conditions for wave generation were implemented for a validation of the method during breaking wave impact. Results of the verification of both extensions compare well to other literature. It can be concluded from this thesis that the compressibility effects of aeration on penetration depth after cylinder slamming can be neglected for entry Mach numbers below 0.1. For further research, it is recommended that this numerical method is used for a range of experiments with various geometries and higher impact velocities. This could provide more insight into situations where aerated water could have important design implications.It can be concluded from this thesis that the compressibility effects of aeration on penetration depth after cylinder slamming can be neglected for entry Mach numbers below 0.1. For further research, it is recommended that this numerical method is used for a range of experiments with various geometries and higher impact velocities. This could provide more insight into situations where aerated water could have important design implications.It can be concluded from this thesis that the compressibility effects of aeration on penetration depth after cylinder slamming can be neglected for entry Mach numbers below 0.1. For further research, it is recommended that this numerical method is used for a range of experiments with various geometries and higher impact velocities. This could provide more insight into situations where aerated water could have important design implications. It can be concluded from this thesis that the compressibility effects of aeration on penetration depth after cylinder slamming can be neglected for entry Mach numbers below 0.1. For further research, it is recommended that this numerical method is used for a range of experiments with various geometries and higher impact velocities. This could provide more insight into situations where aerated water could have important design implications.