This article is dedicated to providing a detailed review concerning the SPH-based hydrodynamic simulations for ocean energy devices (OEDs). Attention is particularly focused on three topics that are tightly related to the concerning field, covering (1) SPH-based numerical fluid tanks, (2) multi-physics SPH techniques towards simulating OEDs, and finally (3) computational efficiency and capacity. In addition, the striking challenges of the SPH method with respect to simulating OEDs are elaborated, and the future prospects of the SPH method for the concerning topics are also provided.

Complex multiphase flow problems in ocean engineering have long been challenging topics. Problems such as large deformations at interfaces, multi-media interfaces, and multiple physical processes are difficult to simulate. Mesh-based algorithms could have limitations in dealing with multiphase interface capture and large interface deformations. On the contrary, the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, as a Lagrangian meshless particle method, has some merit and flexibility in capturing multiphase interfaces and dealing with large boundary deformations. In recent years, with the improvement of SPH theory and numerical models, the SPH method has made significant advances and breakthroughs in terms of theoretical completeness and computational stability, which starts to be widely used in ocean engineering problems, including multiphase flows under atmospheric pressure, high-pressure multiphase flows, phase-change multiphase flows, granular multiphase flows and so on. In this paper, we review the progress of SPH theory and models in multiphase flow simulations, discussing the problems and challenges faced by the method, prospecting to future research works, and aiming to provide a reference for subsequent research.

Based on the Jacobi polynomial expansion, an arbitrary high-order Discontinuous Galerkin solver for compressible flows on unstructured meshes is proposed in the present work. First, we construct orthogonal polynomials for 2D and 3D isoparametric elements using the 1D Jacobi polynomials. We perform modal expansions of the state variables using the orthogonal polynomials, enabling arbitrary high-order spatial discretization of these variables. Subsequently, the discrete governing equations are derived by considering the orthogonality of the Euler equations' residuals and the test functions. On this basis, we develop a high-order Discontinuous Galerkin solver that supports various element types, including triangles, quadrilaterals, tetrahedra, hexahedra, etc. An improved shock-capturing scheme has been adopted to capture shock discontinuities within the flow field. The variable's gradients at the discontinuous elements are reconstructed by its adjacent elements, and the slope limiter is applied to modify the state variables, smoothing the state variables and enhancing the robustness of the solver. The convergence rates of solvers of different orders have been verified by a benchmark case, and the CPU costs are given to prove that high-precision algorithms have higher computational efficiency under the same error level. Finally, several two- and three-dimensional compressible fluid dynamics problems are studied, compared with literature and experimental results, the effectiveness and accuracy of the solver were verified.

The damage process of ship structures under near-field underwater explosions involves strong nonlinear coupling effects of multiple media, and its numerical simulation poses a serious challenge to traditional numerical algorithms. Based on previous research, this article first establishes a highly compressible multiphase flow numerical calculation model based on the high-precision Discontinuous Galerkin Method (DGM) and a ship elastic-plastic damage dynamic model based on the meshless Reproducing Kernel Particle Method (RKPM). Furthermore, we develop an algorithm for grid-independent dynamic expansion of cracks. Based on this, the Boundary Data Immersion Method (BDIM) is used to couple the DGM underwater explosion load numerical calculation model with the RKPM ship structure damage numerical calculation model and a highly nonlinear coupled mechanical model and calculation method for ship structures under near-field underwater explosion loads are established. The numerical prediction of ship damage characteristics under near-field underwater explosions is preliminarily achieved, which can provide technology for optimizing the design of ship protection structures.