Two-dimensional SPH simulations of wedge water entries

This paper presents a study based on the smoothed particles hydrodynamics (SPH) method, aiming at an accurate numerical simulation of solid–fluid coupling in a free surface flow context. The SPH scheme is first described and discussed through its formulations. Then a new technic based on a particle sampling method, and designed to evaluate fluid pressure on solid boundaries is introduced. This method is then extended to the capture of freely moving body dynamics in a fluid/solid coupling approach. This study involves a spatially varying resolution, based on the so-called variable smoothing length technique, for which a new formulation of the equations is proposed. Two distinct test cases of wedge water entry are presented in order to validate this new method. Pressure prediction is first compared with analytical and experimental results, evolution in time of the body dynamics is compared with experimental results in both cases, and the pressure field on the solid boundaries is studied and discussed on the first impact case.