Numerical simulation of nonlinear wave interaction with floating solar platforms with double tubular floaters using viscous flow model

The development of a numerical model for the simulation of wave interaction with floating solar structures is presented in this paper. A twin-cylinder platform representing the floating structure of the floating solar is used in the simulation. To evaluate the response of the structure under waves that affects the integrity of solar panels, a numerical model is developed. Taking account of the viscous effects is essential for reliable estimation of the exciting loads and structural responses of the platform. Hence, the RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations) model is established to simulate this structure under a range of wave frequencies. The viscous model takes advantage of the finite volume solver to accomplish computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis. Convergence and stability of the model are evaluated for different mesh resolutions and correspondingly the computational cost is demonstrated. Numerical solutions are compared with experimental data for verification and validation. Therefore, the range of validity of the viscous model is evaluated for strong nonlinear incident waves.