DualSPHysics is a weakly compressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) Navier–Stokes solver initially conceived to deal with coastal engineering problems, especially those related to wave impact with coastal structures. Since the first release back in 2011, DualSPHysics has shown to be robust and accurate for simulating extreme wave events along with a continuous improvement in efficiency thanks to the exploitation of hardware such as graphics processing units for scientific computing or the coupling with wave propagating models such as SWASH and OceanWave3D. Numerous additional functionalities have also been included in the DualSPHysics package over the last few years which allow the simulation of fluid-driven objects. The use of the discrete element method has allowed the solver to simulate the interaction among different bodies (sliding rocks, for example), which provides a unique tool to analyse debris flows. In addition, the recent coupling with other solvers like Project Chrono or MoorDyn has been a milestone in the development of the solver. Project Chrono allows the simulation of articulated structures with joints, hinges, sliders and springs and MoorDyn allows simulating moored structures. Both functionalities make DualSPHysics especially suited for the simulation of offshore energy harvesting devices. Lately, the present state of maturity of the solver goes beyond single-phase simulations, allowing multi-phase simulations with gas–liquid and a combination of Newtonian and non-Newtonian models expanding further the capabilities and range of applications for the DualSPHysics solver. These advances and functionalities make DualSPHysics an advanced meshless solver with emphasis on free-surface flow modelling.

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is the most widely established mesh-free method which has been used in several fields as astrophysics, solids mechanics and fluid dynamics. In the particular case of computational fluid dynamics, the model is beginning to reach a maturity that allows carrying out detailed quantitative comparisons with laboratory experiments. Here the state-of-the-art of the classical SPH formulation for free-surface flow problems is described in detail. This is demonstrated using dam-break simulations in 2-D and 3-D. The foundations of the method will be presented using different derivations based on the method of interpolants and on the moving least-squares approach. Different methods to improve the classic SPH approach such as the use of density filters and the corrections of the kernel function and its gradient are examined and tested on some laboratory cases

The impact of a single wave generated by a dam break with a tall structure is modeled with a three-dimensional version of the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. The method is used to analyze the propagation of a long wave and the force it exerts on a tall structure located in a region with vertical boundaries. Velocities and forces obtained from a numerical model are shown to be in good agreement with laboratory measurements. The effect of having a dry bed in front of the dam prior to the dam break versus a wet bed in the experiment is discussed.