Numerical Assessment of Symmetric Wedge Water-entry Impact Using OpenFOAM

Abstract

The hydrodynamic problem of a two-dimensional symmetric wedge vertically entering the water, initially flat, with a deadrise angle of 30° is considered. This numerical study assesses turbulence, gravity, viscosity, and surface tension during the early stage of penetration. The OpenFOAM software package has been used to simulate the water entry of the wedge at a constant speed of 3 m/s. The governing equations have been numerically built in the solver called overInterDyMFoam. The  method has also been used to model the turbulence effect. The effects of turbulent and laminar flow assumptions and for the laminar flow, viscosity, gravity, and surface tension influence on pressure distributions along the wedge's walls have been investigated. It is illustrated that turbulence, viscosity, and surface tension have negligible effects on the pressure distribution in the primary water entry process. However, the pressure distribution is found to be significantly influenced by gravity.