Computation of nonlinear free-surface flows
Journal
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
Journal Volume
28
Pages
249-278
Date Issued
1996
Author(s)
Abstract
We review recent advances in computations of incompressible flows involving a fully nonlinear free surface. Our focus is on the treatment of the free surface and (large) nonlinearity. Both potential as well as rotational and viscous free-surface flows are considered. For the former, we review mixed-Eulerian-Lagrangian boundary-integral methods and the recently developed high-order spectral methods. For the latter, the focus is mainly on volume-discretization methods utilizing Eulerian or boundary-fitted grids. The importance and proper treatment of viscous free-surface conditions for these problems are emphasized. We conclude that computations for nonlinear potential-flow wave problems are reasonably mature although further developments to improve efficiency and robustness are needed for large complex problems. Nonlinear viscous free-surface flow computations are relatively new. Many of the difficulties such as large Reynolds numbers computations are common to flows without a free surface. On the other hand, problems such as those associated with the contact line, wave breaking, free-surface turbulence, and surfactants are unique to free-surf ace hydrodynamics and represent some of the difficult remaining challenges in computational fluid dynamics.
SDGs
Type
journal article