OLAFOAM generation capabilities grow with the flap wavemaker

This is an old post saved for archival purposes only. The olaFoam project is now the olaFlow project

This new job has involved a significant coding effort and a redesign of the previous boundary condition for wall displacement. The name of the BC has also changed to reflect the present universal approach; now it is called wavemakerMovement instead of multiPistonMovement. Slight changes in the tutorials were required to adjust for such changes, although the basic functionality remains.

The new flap wavemaker allows simulating laboratory flap-type wavemakers in 2D or 3D. These machines are known to better reproduce the wave kinematics for deeper waters, hence it will represent an breakthrough for the offshore industry partners, especially those interested in nonlinear and second order effects.

New tutorials have been included:

pistonFlumeABS: (formerly pistonFlume) this tutorial consists in a wave flume in which waves are generated on a static boundary and propagate along the flume. On the opposite boundary a moving piston wavemaker absorbs the incoming waves automatically.
wavemakerFlume: this tutorial consists in a wave flume in which waves are generated on a moving boundary and propagate along the flume. Depending on the script used to run the case (runCaseFlap or runCasePiston), the wavemaker will be of piston or flap type. Waves are absorbed by a static boundary at the other end.
wavemakerTank: this tutorial consists in a wave tank in which oblique waves are generated on a moving boundary and propagate along the tank. Depending on the script used to run the case (runParallelCaseFlap or runParallelCasePiston), the wavemaker will be of piston or flap type. Either way, each paddle will move independently to generate the long-crest oblique waves. Waves are absorbed by a static boundary on the other end.

The last two cases include python utilities to generate wave paddle movement according to linear wave theory, in any direction in 2D or 3D.

The source code and instructions to update and recompile the code can be found in this section. Compilation continues to be extremely easy and straightforward.