Spectral element FNPF simulation of focused wave groups impacting a fixed FPSO-type body

A 3D fully nonlinear potential flow (FNPF) model based on an Eulerian formulation is presented. The model is discretizedusing high-order prismatic – possibly curvilinear – elements using a spectral element method (SEM) that has support foradaptive unstructured meshes. The paper presents details of the FNPF-SEM development, and a model is illustrated toexhibit exponential convergence for steep stream function waves to serve as validation.

The model is then applied to the caseof focused waves impacting on a surface-piercing, fixed FPSO-like structure. Good agreement is found between numericaland experimental wave elevations and pressures.