Author(s): Maria Maza; Javier L. Lara; Inigo J. Losada
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Rigid vegetation; Solitary wave; 3-D URANS model; Wave forces; Random distributions
Abstract: This study presents a three-dimensional CFD numerical analysis of the interaction of tsunami waves with mangrove forest. The IHFOAM model is used to determine tsunami wave damping by rigid vegetation and wave-exerted forces in the vegetation field. Tsunami waves are reproduced considering solitary waves. The mangrove forest is represented using emergent rigid cylinders. The study presents a first approach that considers the exact geometry of the cylinders field in the model. The second approach is based on a macroscopic modeling of the flow within the cylinders field considering a drag force to model the momentum damping. The model is validated using laboratory data. The ability and the suitability of the use of both approaches are discussed showing their capacity in determining the wave height evolution along the field and the forces exerted in the cylinders. The first approach allows the study of flow characteristics around each individual cylinder. It is applied in order to study the influence of the cylinder’s spatial distribution in wave damping and in wave-exerted forces. This analysis reveals the importance of considering realistic distributions when evaluating wave exerted-forces.
Year: 2015