Abstract

An enhanced direct forcing immersed boundary method implemented in the open-source hydrodynamic framework REEF3D::CFD is used to simulate six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) motion response of a 1:30 scale point-absorber wave energy converter(WEC) under extreme wave conditions. The enhancement of the method is achieved with a new density interpolation method that removes unphysical spurious phenomena. The governing equations are solved on a staggered rectilinear grid. REEF3D::CFD uses the level set function to represent the free surface. A ray casting algorithm is employed to get inside-outside information in the vicinity of the body with the underlying Cartesian grid. The enhanced method is tested and validated based on the experimental data from the experimental wave tank campaign carried out in the Ocean and Coastal Engineering Laboratory, at Aalborg University, in Denmark.