MPS-Based Mesh-Free Particle Method for Modeling Open-Channel Flows

Abstract

Dealing with large deformation and fragmentation of geometries and interfaces (e.g., free surfaces), the regular mesh-based Eulerian methods, such as finite-element and finite-difference methods, have difficulties in fluid-flow modeling. Recently, studies have focused on a new generation of numerical methods called mesh-free particle (Lagrangian) methods. In this study, a mesh-free particle method based on the moving-particle semi-implicit (MPS) particle-interaction model has been developed for simulation of open-channel flow. The model is able to simulate viscous fluid flow with large deformation and fragmentation of free surface in practical fields. Moreover, the model is capable of modeling open-channel problems with both inflow and outflow and inconstant numbers of particles. The model has been validated and applied to some common sample problems. The results show the reasonable accuracy of the model. The final model is capable of modeling free-surface deformation and fragmentation as well as accurate calculation of velocities in open channels.