A Wave Generation By Tsunami CFD simulation is a computer model that helps us understand how tsunamis form and hit coastal buildings. This Tsunami CFD analysis is very important for safety and design. The process begins with a sudden movement of the sea floor, which creates a massive wave. In ANSYS Fluent, we can perform a Wave Generation By Tsunami Fluent analysis to watch this wave travel and crash into structures. This is a type of Free Surface Simulation that uses the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model to track the line between air and water. Understanding this Wave-Structure Interaction is key for designing stronger buildings. Our work is based on two key research papers, “Multiphase modeling of tsunami impact on building with openings” [1] and “Physical modelling of tsunami using a new pneumatic wave generator” [2], to ensure our simulation is accurate.

• Reference [1]: Ghosh, D., A. K. Mittal, and S. K. Bhattacharyya. “Multiphase modeling of tsunami impact on building with openings.” The Journal of Computational Multiphase Flows2 (2016): 85-94.
• Reference [2]: Rossetto, Tiziana, et al. “Physical modelling of tsunami using a new pneumatic wave generator.” Coastal Engineering6 (2011): 517-527.

Figure 1: wave generation of Tsunami and effects on buildings CFD Simulation

Simulation Process: Fluent Setup, VOF and Dynamic Mesh for Tsunami Modeling

To perform this Wave Generation CFD study, we first built a 2D model of the water tank, the wave generation mechanism, and the coastal building. In ANSYS Fluent, we used the Volume of Fluid (VOF) multiphase model. This is the correct choice because it can accurately track the free surface, which is the sharp line between the water and the air above it. Since a wave moves and changes over time, we used a transient solver to capture the unsteady nature of the flow.

The most important setting for this simulation was the Adaptive Mesh feature. We used mesh adaption to control the grid quality. This means the computer automatically adds more cells (refining) near the moving wave’s surface and removes cells (coarsening) in calm areas. This smart technique lets us get a very clear picture of the wave’s shape without needing a huge number of cells everywhere, which saves a lot of computer time. The final structured grid had 37915 cells.

Figure 2: The schematic diagram of the tsunami wave generation mechanism used in this Tsunami Fluent study, based on the reference paper [1].

Figure 3: A professional visual of the structured mesh with 37915 cells used for the Coastal Engineering CFD analysis, showing sections for grid control.

Post-processing: CFD Analysis, Wave Propagation and Hydrodynamic Impact

The simulation results provide a professional visual that acts as a diagnostic map of the tsunami’s life cycle. From an engineering standpoint, we can see the initial water displacement creating a large, long wave that travels across the tank. The VOF model perfectly captures the sharp crest of the wave, showing its energy is contained. The velocity contours show that the water accelerates from 0 m/s to a peak speed of 4.3 m/s as the wave crest passes. This is not just a wave; it is a massive transfer of energy moving through the water.

This Wave-Structure Interaction analysis shows what happens when this energy hits the building. The velocity contours reveal a clear acceleration of the fluid as it is forced to flow around and over the building. This flow restriction is what creates the immense hydrodynamic forces on the structure. Behind the building, the professional visuals show large vortices and turbulent swirling. This turbulence is a sign of extreme energy loss, and it can cause heavy erosion, or “scour,” at the building’s foundation, making it unstable. The most important achievement of this simulation is its ability to connect the initial wave generation to the precise flow patterns and velocity spikes at the building, providing a powerful tool to predict the specific impact forces and identify weak points in coastal defense designs.