In this study numerical model was developed to solve the unsteady two-dimensional Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and the turbulent k −ε equations for simulating the evolution of a breaking solitary wave above a continental shelf. A hybrid particle level set method was adopted to capture the complex free surface evolution, beginning from the steepening of the wave profile to the wave breaking, which was accompanied by the air entrainment, then followed by the successive splash-ups. The governing equations were discretized by the finite-analytic method and the SIMPLER algorithm was used to calculate the coupled velocity and pressure fields. Accuracy of the advection scheme of the level set method was confirmed by solving the Zalesak problem. Before we proceed to investigate the evolution of breaking solitary wave on a continental shelf, our numerical results were compared with the experimental data. After having verified the accuracy of the present numerical scheme, both the evolution and kinematic properties of the overturning waves on the shelf have been revealed to details. Furthermore, our numerical simulation shows that during the overturning of the solitary wave, the maximum velocity of the fluid particles occurs at the region near the second reattachment point with a high speed of 1.84√gh.
Wave breaking is one of the most commonly observed features of water waves in the coastal areas. When waves break, the momentum of waves is transformed to the ocean surface layer. Breaking waves are also important in the generation of near surface turbulence and mixing and in the generation of bubble clouds. Many experiments were conducted to explore the physical phenomena associated with wave breaking. In the ocean engineering, effects of breaking waves play an important role in the design of offshore structures.
