Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter

Numerical wave tanks (NWTs) provide efficient test beds for the numerical analysis at various stages during the development of wave energy converters (WECs). To ensure the acquisition of accurate, high-fidelity data sets, validation of NWTs is a crucial step. However, using experimental data as refe...

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Main Authors: Christian Windt, Nicolás Faedo, Demián García-Violini, Yerai Peña-Sanchez, Josh Davidson, Francesco Ferri, John V. Ringwood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Fluids
Subjects:
CFD
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/5/3/112
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spelling doaj-0fce1d1aecd8405a9db2e3afc4a8d1b82020-11-25T02:17:10ZengMDPI AGFluids2311-55212020-07-01511211210.3390/fluids5030112Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy ConverterChristian Windt0Nicolás Faedo1Demián García-Violini2Yerai Peña-Sanchez3Josh Davidson4Francesco Ferri5John V. Ringwood6Centre for Ocean Energy Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Co. Kildare, IrelandCentre for Ocean Energy Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Co. Kildare, IrelandDepartamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires B1876, ArgentinaCentre for Ocean Energy Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Co. Kildare, IrelandDepartment of Fluid Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, DenmarkCentre for Ocean Energy Research, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Co. Kildare, IrelandNumerical wave tanks (NWTs) provide efficient test beds for the numerical analysis at various stages during the development of wave energy converters (WECs). To ensure the acquisition of accurate, high-fidelity data sets, validation of NWTs is a crucial step. However, using experimental data as reference during model validation, exact knowledge of all system parameters is required, which may not always be available, thus making an incremental validation inevitable. The present paper documents the numerical model validation of a 1/20 scale Wavestar WEC. The validation is performed considering different test case of increasing complexity: wave-only, wave excitation force, free decay, forced oscillation, and wave-induced motion cases. The results show acceptable agreement between the numerical and experimental data so that, under the well-known modelling constraints for mechanical friction and uncertainties in the physical model properties, the developed numerical model can be declared as validated.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/5/3/112model validationnumerical wave tankCFDOpenFOAMwave-structure interaction
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Christian Windt
Nicolás Faedo
Demián García-Violini
Yerai Peña-Sanchez
Josh Davidson
Francesco Ferri
John V. Ringwood
spellingShingle Christian Windt
Nicolás Faedo
Demián García-Violini
Yerai Peña-Sanchez
Josh Davidson
Francesco Ferri
John V. Ringwood
Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter
Fluids
model validation
numerical wave tank
CFD
OpenFOAM
wave-structure interaction
author_facet Christian Windt
Nicolás Faedo
Demián García-Violini
Yerai Peña-Sanchez
Josh Davidson
Francesco Ferri
John V. Ringwood
author_sort Christian Windt
title Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter
title_short Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter
title_full Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter
title_fullStr Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter
title_full_unstemmed Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter
title_sort validation of a cfd-based numerical wave tank model of the 1/20th scale wavestar wave energy converter
publisher MDPI AG
series Fluids
issn 2311-5521
publishDate 2020-07-01
description Numerical wave tanks (NWTs) provide efficient test beds for the numerical analysis at various stages during the development of wave energy converters (WECs). To ensure the acquisition of accurate, high-fidelity data sets, validation of NWTs is a crucial step. However, using experimental data as reference during model validation, exact knowledge of all system parameters is required, which may not always be available, thus making an incremental validation inevitable. The present paper documents the numerical model validation of a 1/20 scale Wavestar WEC. The validation is performed considering different test case of increasing complexity: wave-only, wave excitation force, free decay, forced oscillation, and wave-induced motion cases. The results show acceptable agreement between the numerical and experimental data so that, under the well-known modelling constraints for mechanical friction and uncertainties in the physical model properties, the developed numerical model can be declared as validated.
topic model validation
numerical wave tank
CFD
OpenFOAM
wave-structure interaction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/5/3/112
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