Validation of a CFD-Based Numerical Wave Tank Model of the 1/20th Scale Wavestar Wave Energy Converter

Numerical wave tanks (NWTs) provide efficient test beds for the numerical analysis at various stages during the development of wave energy converters (WECs). To ensure the acquisition of accurate, high-fidelity data sets, validation of NWTs is a crucial step. However, using experimental data as reference during model validation, exact knowledge of all system parameters is required, which may not always be available, thus making an incremental validation inevitable. The present paper documents the numerical model validation of a 1/20 scale Wavestar WEC. The validation is performed considering different test case of increasing complexity: wave-only, wave excitation force, free decay, forced oscillation, and wave-induced motion cases. The results show acceptable agreement between the numerical and experimental data so that, under the well-known modelling constraints for mechanical friction and uncertainties in the physical model properties, the developed numerical model can be declared as validated.