Numerical and Experimental Modelling on Floating Particle Submergence Trajectory

Abstract Floating marine debris causes environmental pollution, risk health and damage coastal structures. Recent research employed physical and numerical techniques to identify the drift of floating debris, but the effect of submergence has yet been explored. This study proposed a numerical approach utilizing the existing algae module in TELEMAC-2D to evaluate the trajectory of submerged, partial submerged and fully floating particle and verified with experimental observations. Blue Kenue was used as the pre-processor to set-up the model domain. Simulated water depth and current velocity agrees well with the measured values. Existing particle advection transport model which is a combination of drag momentum and Basset forces captured the trajectory for submerged objects. The axial displacement of floating particles less than fluid density was overestimated by 9% to 20% difference between simulated and measured values. This study proves that the existing particle transport model in TELEMAC-2D is applicable in submerged floating object trajectory prediction and the output from this study can be useful in mitigating debris flows in the environment.