Journal of Hydraulic Structures

Journal of Hydraulic Structures

Numerical Study of Impulsive Wave Overtopping at Rigid Hydraulic Structures Using Incompressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Model

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Rasoul Memarzadeh
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Iran, P.O. Box 518.
10.22055/jhs.2025.48919.1345
Abstract
Understanding the behavior of wave overtopping at hydraulic structures is critical for ensuring the stability and longevity of dams and coastal defenses. This study presents a validated Incompressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics – Large Eddy Simulation (ISPH–LES) model for accurately simulating solitary wave overtopping events. The ISPH–LES model integrates advanced improvements, including a newly developed solid boundary treatment that enhances numerical stability and fidelity near rigid walls. Given the highly turbulent nature of overtopping flows, the integration of LES into the SPH framework enables detailed resolution of vortex structures and energy dissipation mechanisms. The model was validated against experimental data from nine overtopping scenarios, with predictions of key hydrodynamic parameters—maximum overtopping depth, overtopping volume, and wave overtopping duration—yielding average errors of 9.5%, 15%, and 5.9%, respectively. Temporal pressure distributions over 27 time frames were analyzed to illustrate the model’s ability to capture impact, peak, and dissipation phases of overtopping. The results indicate that the ISPH–LES model performs exceptionally well in high-energy overtopping events, while suggesting potential refinements in scenarios with smaller overtopping volumes. These findings underscore the model’s practical utility for designing hydraulic structures in regions prone to extreme wave conditions, offering critical insights into optimizing structural resilience under a wide range of overtopping scenarios
Keywords
ISPH – LES model
Modified wall boundary condition
Solitary impulse wave
Rigid hydraulic structures
Wave overtopping
Subjects
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