Sensitivity of Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamic Parameters on Slamming Simulations

Abstract The oil and gas industry requires complex subsea infrastructure in order to develop offshore oil and gas fields. Upon installation, these components may encounter high slamming loads, stemming from impact with the water surface. This paper utilises Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics to quantify these loads on a free-falling object. The investigation is interested in conducting a parameter study and determining the effect of varying simulation parameters on the prediction of slamming event kinematics and forces. The surface impact of a 2D freefalling wedge was simulated, with the results being compared to an experimental investigation. It was found through the parameters that particle resolution and the size of the SPH particle kernel are very important, whilst the diffusion terms do not play an important role. The latter is due to the very transient nature of slamming events, which do not allow sufficient time for diffusion in the domain. The close correlation of numerical and experimental results, along with the robustness and quick set up of SPH slamming simulations, indicate that SPH is a promising method of modelling more complicated slamming problems, which may involve more intricate impacting structures.