Numerical simulation of the flow generated by a plunging breaker

A numerical method able to simulate the flow generated after wave breaking is presented. The flow is calculated by a direct solving of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations involving two phases (water and air) associated with an accurate interface tracking algorithm. The whole method is validated on the case of permanent non-linear wave propagation. A plunging breaking of a periodical wave is next simulated. The tracking of a "marked" fluid volume standing in front of the wave before the impact allows us to find the origin of the fluid involved in the splash up. This latter appears to be mainly composed by fluid particles that were initially in the wave through.