SPH modelling of the flow field with spilling generated by a hydrofoil

This paper shows the results of the SPH modelling of the spilling-type breaking flow field produced by a NACA 0024 hydrofoil positioned in a uniform current, based on the laboratory experiments by Mossa (2008). Understanding wave breaking is fundamental for many coastal engineering problems. It is well known that turbulence and undertow currents in the breaking zone are key factors in the mixing and transport processes. Experimental investigations were carried out by measuring the velocity field with a backscatter, two-component four-beam optic-fiber LDA system. SPH simulations were obtained by a pseudo-compressible XSPH scheme with pressure smoothing; an algebraic mixing-length model and a two-equation model were used to represent turbulent stresses. The study made particular reference to the velocity and free surface profile with the aim of analyzing the hydraulic jump development downstream of the hydrofoil. The agreement between the numerical results and laboratory measurements in the wake region is satisfactory and allows the evaluation of the wave breaking efficiency of the device by a detailed analysis of the simulated flow field