Numerical model for sediment transportation under breaking wave: The application exploration of VOF-CFD-DEM model in gas-fluid-particle system

The Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) model integrated with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is applied to study the complex gas-fluid-particle coupled system. To enhance the model’s feasibility, the efficiency and accuracy improvement approaches are implemented into the model, including the coarse-grained method, porous medium replacement and semi-resolved method. To validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the model, simulations of the particle water entry and dam break scenarios are conducted, Subsequently, the VOF-CFD-DEM model is utilized to study the sediment transportation under breaking waves. A comparison of various turbulence models reveals that the stabilized $k-\omega$ model can simulate the breaking wave with acceptable efficiency and accuracy. The study examines the flow characteristics, forces acting on slopes, and typical sediment movements, providing detailed case studies and data relevant to gas-fluid-particle systems. This work extends the application of the VOF-CFD-DEM model to extreme conditions in ocean engineering, offering a mesoscopic perspective on complex engineering challenges.