Benefits of using a Wendland kernel for free-surface flows

The aim of this paper is to discuss the influence of the selection of the interpolation kernel in the accuracy of the modeling of the internal viscous dissipation in free surface flows. Simulations corresponding to a standing wave, for which an analytic solution is available, are presented. Wendland and renormalized Gaussian kernels are considered. The differences in the flow patterns and internal dissipation mechanisms are documented for a range of Reynolds numbers. It is shown that the simulations with Wendland kernels replicate the dissipation mechanisms more accurately than those with a renormalized Gaussian kernel. Although some explanations are hinted, we have failed to clarify which the core structural reasons for such differences are.