Iván Martínez-Estévez

• Computer Science engineer
• PhD at University of Vigo

The primary purpose of a breakwater is to ensure the safety of docking operations, providing secure navigation and operational stability within designated areas. In response to the challenges presented by climate change and rising sea levels, coastal engineers and scientists are actively conducting research to assess the implications of the increas...

The purpose of employing artificial armour blocks in the construction of a mound breakwater is to enhance the overall stability of the system by maximising the interlocking effects among the units, offering distinct advantages over traditional rock structures of similar weights and apparent sizes. However, a balance must be achieved between the gap...

The morphology of rock plays an important role in the process of landslide-induced wave, yet it is often neglected in current studies. This work aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact of irregular rock shapes on landslide-induced wave generation and propagation via coupling smooth particle fluid dynamics and discrete element method from...

This research proposes a high-fidelity based numerical tank designed to analyze the modified hydrodynamics that develops in waves-current fields, aimed at generating power matrices for wave energy converters (WEC). This tank is developed within the open source DualSPHysics Lagrangian framework using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method,...

The primary purpose of a breakwater is to ensure the safety of docking operations, providing secure navigation and operational stability within designated areas. In response to the challenges presented by climate change and rising sea levels, coastal engineers and scientists are actively conducting research to assess the implications of the increas...

The purpose of employing artificial armour blocks in the construction of a mound breakwater is to enhance the overall stability of the system by maximising the interlocking effects among the units, offering distinct advantages over traditional rock structures of similar weights and apparent sizes (Figure 1). However, a balance must be achieved betw...

Site-specific environmental conditions in targeted areas for offshore renewable energy deployment often feature underlying currents. The effects of the latter on wave parameters and overall hydrodynamics modifies the behavior of light offshore structures, such as wave energy converters (WEC), with unforeseen alteration of power yield and structural...

Aquatic vegetation in the littoral zone plays a crucial role in attenuating wave energy and protecting coastal communities from hazardous events. This study contributes to the development of numerical models aimed at designing nature-based coastal defense systems. Specifically, a novel numerical application for simulating wave–vegetation interactio...

The study investigates the behaviour of a liquified natural gas carrier in regular head waves using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics meshfree method implemented in DualSPHysics. A numerical wave tank in three-dimensional domain is generated using the modified Dynamic Boundary Conditions and compared with the theoretic wave surface using Stokes e...

In this work, the hydrodynamics forces on semi-submerged and submerged cylinders under a steady flow are analysed using the numerical code DualSPHysics, which implements the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The published experimental tests which were conducted in the Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute, for submerged and semi...

Aquatic vegetation in the littoral zone, particularly seagrass, is gaining increasing recognition for its net positive impact on the hosting environment. This recognition is rooted in its capacity to absorb wave energy, regulate water flow, and manage nutrient levels, sedimentation and accretion. Thus, there is a growing interest in integrating sea...

With the use of a wave-current basin developed in the DualSPHysics framework [1], and adopting modeling strategies supported by the external libraries MoorDyn+ and Chrono, the Uppsala University WEC’s (UUWEC) performance is investigated under a wide range of operational wave conditions combined with uniform currents. We show direct correlation betw...

The recent couplings between DualSPHysics and the Finite Element Module (FEA) of Project Chrono presented in Martínez-Estévez et al. (2023) and the total Lagrangian implementation by O’Connor and Rogers (2021) have expanded the capabilities of DualSPHysics to address problems related to waveflexible structures interactions For example, El Rahi et a...

High-fidelity modelling has the potential to refine and enhance the performance of offshore wave and wind energy capturing devices, a task that is costly, cumbersome, and time consuming to carry out via physical testing. DualSPHysics, owing to its multi-physics simulation support, has emerged as a unique engineering tool to support such application...

In this contribution, we discuss the pros and cons of using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method in providing support to multiphysics simulations. The Lagrangian SPH method is proposed to address a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problem in which the response of a flexible baffle with elastic behavior is solved by using three modeling...

Hybrid fluid-particle systems are prevalent in nature and engineering practices, but accurately simulating the dynamic behaviour is challenging due to their inherent strong non-linearity. This study proposes a three-dimensional resolved numerical framework for analysing complex shape polyhedron-fluid interaction. The weakly compressible smoothed pa...

The behavior, safety and survivability of offshore moored systems is determined by the environmental conditions, which, along with the wave characteristics, usually include the presence of currents. Their effect modifies the wave pattern and the overall fluid behavior, and may cause inaccuracies in the estimated sea state parameters, which would ev...

In this work a numerical investigation on a planing hull in regular waves is carried out by means of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) meshfree method. The simulation of the interaction of such vessels with wave trains features several challenging characteristics, from the complex physical interaction, due to large dynamic responses, to the...

The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability and suitability of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method in modelling a flexible flat net subjected to a constant flow. SPH is a meshless Lagrangian method that discretises the system into particles, making it particularly suitable for modelling turbulent and highly nonlinear flows w...

There are currently several types of devices capable of harnessing wave energy, exploiting a broad variety of physical transformation processes. These devices – known as Wave Energy Converters (WECs) – are developed to maximize their power output. However, there are still uncertainties about their response and survivability to loads induced by adve...

Sustainable coastal defense is promoted by wave-vegetation interaction that occurs in coastal zones and is able to dissipate wave energy and baffle currents. To study the complex fluid-structure interactions involved, numerical models present themselves as a suitable tool able to offer an in-depth view over the near field kinematics and dynamics. T...

Vegetation meadows in coastal waters are a key constituent of a future green defense package due to the ecosystem services they provide and the potential to attenuate wave energy. To numerically describe the vegetation dynamics under wave action, this paper presents a novel application of a numerical coupling for solving fluid–elastic structure int...

To investigate the hydrodynamic performance of the floating platform VolturnUS-S as configured for the 1st Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) Comparative Study, we have used a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) based solver that features a coupling to the cable dynamic solver MoorDyn+ to reproduce the proposed benchmarks. This is a quite nove...

In the original publication [...]

This work proposes a two-way coupling between a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model-based named DualSPHysics and a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method to solve fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Aiming at having a computationally efficient solution via spatial adjustable resolutions for the two phases, the SPH-FEA coupling herein presented...

In this work, the dynamics of a planing hull in regular head waves was investigated using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) meshfree method. The simulation of the interaction of such vessels with wave trains features several challenging characteristics, from the complex physical interaction, due to large dynamic responses, to the likewise h...

Technical advancements in the offshore wind industry have led to new Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) concepts that can be assembled on shore and towed to the installation location. However, there is a lack of experimental and numerical seakeeping analysis of fully mounted turbines when they are towed from the construction location to site. Th...

One of the emerging technologies in the renewable marine energy market is the flexible wave energy converter (WEC) that promises unprecedented efficiency and the ability to simultaneously harness waves and currents [1]. Before upscaling this technology, the operability, survivability, and efficiency under different hydrodynamic conditions need to b...

Numerical modelling plays an important role in supporting the design stages of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and arrays of WECs. Specifically, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are numerical tools widely used to deal with the most important aspects when WECs are under investigation, such as the study of their efficiency and survivability. G...

We aim to investigate the hydrodynamic performance of a novel wind-capturing device that would allow the installation of wind turbines in deep sea. The Counter-Rotating vertical-Axis Floating Tilting wind turbine (CRAFT) would permit the installation of power generators of up to 40MW or possibly larger, reaching a total tower height of 400 m, with...

Towards improving the general understanding of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) performance, we propose a deep investigation into the dynamic response of a common floater type for wind turbines, the so-called tension-leg platform (TLP), using high-fidelity numerical tools, and planning to characterize the expected forces in the anchoring sys...

Sustainable coastal defense can be enhanced by wave-vegetation interaction in coastal zones. The presence of vegetation will dissipate wave energy and baffle currents. To study the complex fluid-structure interactions involved, numerical models present themselves as a suitable tool able to offer an in-depth view over the near field kinematics and d...

The open-source code DualSPHysics, based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method for solving fluid mechanics problems, defines a complete numerical environment for simulating the interaction of floating structures with waves and currents, and includes external libraries to simulate kinematic- and dynamic-type restrictions. In this work,...

The DualSPHysics open-source code establishes a comprehensive and efficient framework for simulating coastal and ocean engineering structures, which has been proven to be particularly reliable in wave energy converter (WEC) simulation. In this research, the experimental data of the floating oscillating surge wave energy converter (FOSWEC), is used...

Focused waves are becoming an alternative tool to simulate harsh conditions for floating structures. The definition of a group of focusing waves, however, requires the configuration of several parameters. The choice of the focusing position is, in principle, critical depending on its location with respect to the structure’s, as their distance is he...

This paper presents the algorithm of a computationally efficient and reliable time-domain numerical tool capable of modelling floating wind turbine (FWT) platforms subjected to waves loads. Validation is performed against the experimental data of the DeepCwind semi-submersible. The platform's responses are modelled according to the Cummins’ equatio...

A two-way coupling between the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics-based (SPH) code with a multiphysics library to solve complex fluid-solid interaction problems is proposed. This work provides full access to the package for the use of this coupling by releasing the source code, completed with guidelines for its compilation and utilization, and self-co...

In this work, we present a numerical approach to tackle elastic fluid-structure interaction (FSI) cases, built within the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) framework of DualSPHysics augmented with the multiphysics Project Chrono library. Within a homogeneous Lagrangian environment, the SPH particles constitute both the solid and fluid domains....

In the context of solving fluid-elastic structure interaction (FSI) problems involving ultra-thin elements, this paper presents a novel approach by using the extended two-way coupling between the DualSPHysics model and the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) structural solver integrated in Project Chrono. The flexible structure herein presented is based...

The open-source code DualSPHysics, based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method for solving fluid mechanics problems, defines a complete numerical environment for simulating the interaction of floating structures with ocean waves, and includes external libraries to simulate kinematic- and dynamic-type restrictions. In this work, a full valid...

Probably the biggest challenge for wave energy is to ensure survival in harsh offshore conditions, in order to reduce costs for offshore repair operations and downtime, and achieve economic viability. This work presents a reliable numerical tool that can be used to study the dynamics and survivability of wave energy converters in violent wave condi...

This work proposes a two-way coupling between the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method with a multiphysics library to solve complex fluid-solid interaction problems. The fluid solver is the open-source code DualSPHysics that is optimised for simulating freesurface phenomena and wave-structure interactions, mainly applied to coastal engineer...

This work presents a novel approach for simulating elastic beam elements in DualSPHysics leveraging functions made available by the coupling with the Project Chrono library. Such numerical frameworks, belonging to the Meshfree Particle Methods family, stand out for several features, like complex multiphase phenomena, moving boundaries, and high def...

Machine-Ground Interaction Consortium (MaGIC)

This work presents a novel numerical framework for dynamic analyses of structure systems within the meshless approach Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The Lagrangian solver DualSPHysics presents several advantages over the widely used Eulerian solvers, dealing with nonlinearities and multiphase phenomena with reasonable numerical sta-...

This work proposes a novel SPH-FE coupling between the DualSPHysics code and the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) module of the Project Chrono library. Aiming at having a computationally efficient solution, the version of the coupling herein presented implements the Euler-Bernoulli beam model – based on a simplified model that incorporates only axial...

This work presents and validates a novel concept for modelling power take-off (PTO) systems, leveraging the potential of the multiphysics libraries Project Chrono and MoorDyn, coupled to the DualSPHysics solver. A point-absorbing wave energy converter, engineered at Uppsala University (Sweden), is used as a reference case to prove the accuracy and...

DualSPHysics is a weakly compressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) Navier-Stokes solver initially conceived to deal with coastal engineering problems, especially those related to wave impact with coastal structures. Since the first release back in 2011, DualSPHysics has shown to be robust and accurate for simulating extreme wave events alo...

DualSPHysics is a weakly compressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) Navier–Stokes solver initially conceived to deal with coastal engineering problems, especially those related to wave impact with coastal structures. Since the first release back in 2011, DualSPHysics has shown to be robust and accurate for simulating extreme wave events alo...

In literature, the most successful applications of fluid structure interaction (FSI) consider the SPH method to solve fluid flow, whereas various methods are used for the structural solvers (e.g., ISPH-SPH-H [1], SPH-FEM [2]). This work proposes a novel SPH-FEA coupling between the DualSPHysics code and the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) module of t...

This work intends to introduce an alternative approach to simulate the elastic behavior of mono-dimensional beams interacting with fluid in DualSPHysics [1]. This research aim to couple theoretical argument on local elasticity and their application to maximize the potentiality of DualSPHysics in simulating deformable elements. Within the framework...

Among the numerical tools used in the modelling of wave energy converters, the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method has emerged as a powerful tool to accurately model the behavior of WEC farms and other energy devices using fully non-linear simulations with high resolutions [1]. One software package in which this method is implemented is Du...

The DualSPHysics code is a widely used numerical tool to model wave energy converters (e.g., modelling a point absorber wave energy converter [1]) using the two-way coupling with Project Chrono. The current configuration includes a rigid body solver and elements such as hinges and springs [2] which can resolve motion and simulate linear damping ele...