NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF WAVE-SEAWALL INTERACTION

A modern high resolution numerical solver for the 2D shallow water equations on a Cartesian cut cell mesh is presented. The scheme is used to numerically model a wave basin containing a multi-element wave maker, two wave guides and a cranked seawall with a sloping beach. The model is run under a wide variety of wave conditions and basin geometries in order to provide guidance for setting up physical experiments within the wave basin to investigate violent wave overtopping of seawalls. Advice is provided on optimal wave guide length, the effect of separation between wave-maker and wave guides and the presence of overtopping hotspots at the seawall. A brief description of the Cartesian cut cell method is also given and this technology is used to simulate the multi-element wave maker.