Numerical simulation of the full non-linear behaviour of Wave Energy Converters

The present work aims to prove the benefits of using a mesh-less particle numerical model to design Wave Energy Converters (WEC). In particular, the capabilities of the SPH-based code named DualSPHysics is here presented. SPH models can simulate the non-linear wavestructure interaction where large deformation can be efficiently treated since there is no mesh distortion and no special treatment to detect the free surface. Herein, DualSPHysics has been coupled with other free and open source codes to simulate mooring forces of the floating moored structures using the library MoorDyn, and mechanical constraints of WECs using the multiphysics library Project Chrono. The coupling between DualSPHysics with MoorDyn and with Chrono are here described, validated with experiments and applied to simulate different types of WECs: i) Oscillating Water Column (OWC), and ii) Oscillating Wave Surge Converter (OWSC).