Zhou, Q.; Zhan, J.-M., and Li, Y.-S., 2014. Numerical study of interaction between solitary wave and two submerged obstacles in tandem.

In this work, a transient two-dimensional numerical model based on a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation with a k − ϵ turbulence closure model and the volume of fluid method is used to study the interaction of a solitary wave with two impermeable submerged obstacles in tandem. The accuracy of the numerical model was first verified with test cases for which experimental data are available for comparison with the computed results. It is verified that the present numerical model can capture the free surface profile as well as predict the temporal variation of the velocity and vorticity fields accurately. Using this model, the effects of incident wave height and distance of separation between the two obstacles on the generation and evolution of vortices due to flow separation and drag forces on the obstacles are studied, and a parametric study on reflection, transmission, and dissipation coefficients is also included. The numerical results reveal that the rear obstacle might constrain the movement of the primary vortex on the lee side of the front obstacle but cannot reduce its strength. Also a tertiary counterclockwise vortex is generated. The wave energy dissipation in the case of two obstacles in tandem increases with the distance of separation between the two obstacles until some threshold, and the negative peak value of the drag coefficient of the front obstacle is larger than that of a single obstacle.