Predicting wave loads on adjacent cylinder arrays with a 3D model

ABSTRACTBased on the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, a three-dimensional numerical model is proposed to study the interaction between waves and adjacent cylinder arrays. The Partial Cell Treatment is introduced to handle the grids near the cylinders and the Volume of Fluid method is adopted to reconstruct the free surface. The standard k– model is employed to close the Reynolds equations. In the simulations, a wave is generated numerically in the left boundary, with a numerical sponge layer before the outlet boundary used to absorb the wave energy. The model is validated using the Morison equation and experimental data. The validated model is then used to evaluate the wave loads on adjacent cylinder arrays including tandem, side-by-side and 2×2 arrangements in the Jintang Bridge in the East China Sea. It is found that there is no significant interference between cylinders when the spacing between cylinders exceeds four diameters.