Impact of 2D and axisymmetric bodies with arbitrary section on the water surface

In this paper the free surface flow generated by the impact of 2D symmetric and axisymmetric bodies of arbitrary shape is numerically investigated. The study is carried out in the frame of potential flow of an incompressible fluid without gravity and surface tension effects. The flow is computed through a boundary elements formulation and the nonlinearities in the free surface boundary conditions are fully retained. Attention is focused to the evaluation of the pressure distribution and to the total hydrodynamic load. Comparisons with theoretical solution for a cone and with experiments for a sphere impact are established, showing a satisfactory agreement.