Numerical simulation of the second-order Stokes theory using finite difference method

Abstract

The nonlinear water waves problem is of great importance because, according to the mechanical modeling of this problem, a relationship exists between the potential flow and pressure exerted by water waves. The difficulty of this problem comes not only from the fact that the kinematic and dynamic conditions are nonlinear in relation to the velocity potential, but especially because they are applied at an unknown and variable free surface. To overcome this difficulty, Stokes used an approach consisting of perturbations series around the still water level to develop a nonlinear theory. This paper deals with computation of the second-order Stokes theory in order to simulate the potential flow and the surface elevation and then to deduct the pressure loads. The Crank–Nicholson scheme and the finite difference method are used. The modeling accuracy was proved and is of order two in time and in space. Some computational results are presented and discussed.