Τοwards a unified mοdelling οf wave-current-turbulence interactiοns in three dimensiοns: applicatiοn tο Alderney Race (France) and Gregοry Sound (Ιreland)

As tidal turbines are to be implemented in the highly energetic sea of Alderney Race (France), the aim of the study is to define a way to simulate its turbulent water regime and that of the similar site of Gregory sound (Ireland), in interaction with the ocean waves.  

The goal is to include a compatible 3D turbulence model in the existing formulations to develop a unified model for wave-current-turbulence interactions that is realistic in terms of numerical resources. This will be achieved by integrating the original LES turbulence model of Leray-α to sets of equations modeling wave-current interactions in 3D. 

This is being done using the CROCO numerical modeling system (https://www.croco-ocean.org) applied to the coastal ocean, in which the algorithms for the turbulence filtering procedures are to be implemented. The conclusions until now are the following: i) the Leray-α filtering procedure gives accurate results when applied for the three-dimensional mixing, ii) the Leray-α filtering procedure re-energizes the flow, iii) the model allows the coarser resolution to simulate the finer one, with a relevant reduction of the computational costs.  

For the next steps, Leray-α will be used to simulate the real locations of Alderney Race and Gregory sound, and waves interactions will be included in the study through the coupling of CROCO with the model Wavewatch III.