Abstract:

Physics of the air-sea interface are among the factors determining intensity of tropical cyclones. We have conducted a series of laboratory experiments at Air-Sea Interaction Salt Water Tank (ASIST), which have been coordinated with numerical modeling using the Volume of Fluid Large Eddy Simulation (VOF LES) method. The microstructure of the air-water interface under hurricane force wind revealed formation of the “projectiles” and “sheets” of water fragmenting into large spray particles. This process resembled Kelvin-Helmholtz shear instability between fluids with large density difference. We reproduced this type of instability in a laboratory experiment with a Volume of Fluid Large Eddy Simulation. This numerical simulation was coordinated with the laboratory experiment at the UM RSMAS Air-Sea Interaction Salt Water Tank. The data from lab experiments are given in CARTHE's companion dataset R1.x134.073:0009. We have used the ANSYS Fluent software for the numerical experiment. Case, data file, and Phase Water, Volume Fraction contour plots with 0.01 s time step are provided in this database.

Suggested Citation:

Soloviev, Alexander. 2016. ANSYS Fluent simulation of the air-water interface under hurricane force wind. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N72805MX

Publications:

Soloviev, A. V., Lukas, R., Donelan, M. A., Haus, B. K., & Ginis, I. (2014). The air-sea interface and surface stress under tropical cyclones. Scientific Reports, 4. doi:10.1038/srep05306

Purpose:

These model runs were coordinated with a series of lab experiments to study the microstructure of the air-water interface under hurricane-force winds.

Data Parameters and Units:

volume fraction for different water phases (non-dimensional) Wind stress is 4 N/m^2 and the air-water surface tension coefficient is 0.072 N/m

Methods:

ANSYS Fluent

Individual Files: