Using a porous-media approach for CFD modelling of wave interaction with thin perforated structures

This work presents the use of a porous-media approach for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling of wave interaction with thin perforated sheets and cylinders. The perforated structures are not resolved explicitly but represented by a volumetric porous zone where a volume-averaged pressure gradient in the form of a drag term is applied to the Navier–Stokes momentum equation. The horizontal force on the structures and the free-surface elevation at wave gauges around the cylinder model have been analysed for a range of porosities and regular wave conditions. The CFD results are verified against results from a linear potential-flow model and validated against experimental results. The applied pressure gradient formulation produces good agreement for all porosity values, wave frequencies and wave steepnesses investigated. It is demonstrated that an isotropic macroscopic porosity representation used for large volumetric granular material can also be used for thin perforated structures. This approach offers greater flexibility in the range of wave conditions that can be modelled compared to approaches based on linear potential-flow theory and requires a smaller computational effort compared to CFD approaches which resolve the flow through the openings. The approach can therefore be an efficient alternative for engineering problems where large-scale effects such as global forces and the overall flow-behaviour are of the main interest.