Improved SPH simulation of wave motions and turbulent flows through porous media

An improved weakly compressible smoothed particle hydrodynamic (WCSPH) model is developed to model wave motions and turbulent flows through porous structures. The model is based on the Volume Averaged and Favre Averaged Navier–Stokes (VAFANS) equations in which the sub-particle-scale (SPS) turbulence stresses are calculated using an eddy viscosity type model. The resistant forces on the fluid flow caused by the presence of the solid skeleton are expressed in the standard empirical linear and nonlinear forms. By introducing porosity information at fixed background points, the interfaces between different media are treated using the SPH interpolation method. The SPH porous model is validated by available numerical results and experimental data for dam-break wave passing through permeable dam. The validated model is applied to study wave interaction with submerged and emerged rubble-mound breakwaters of two layer porous media and good agreements between the computed results and the experimental data are obtained, demonstrating the predicative capability of the model in simulating general turbulent flows through porous media. •The SPH model is based on the VAFANS equations and the SPS turbulence model.•The interfaces between different media are treated as a transition zone.•A varying smoothing length technique is introduced.•The numerical model is validated against other numerical and experimental results.•The model is applied to study wave interaction with low-crested porous structures.