Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Flow around Mangrove roots.

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to study the flow patterns around mangrove roots to understand its significance in coastal risk reduction. A computational model of two-dimensional Pneumatophores mangrove roots is developed, and flow is simulated using ANSYS software with a predefined mathematical model and boundary conditions. Computational fluid dynamic analysis of a two-dimensional, viscous, incompressible, turbulent flow under steady and unsteady boundary condition is performed using the Finite volume method. Detailed velocity profiles, residual plots, pressure distributions, vectors of the velocity magnitude and pressure and velocity at different positions around the mangrove roots are presented to visualize the importance of mangroves in reducing the wave velocity. The simulation outcome confirms that the mangrove roots of mangrove species can reduce the initial velocity of water flow. The flow patterns and flow structures around the root in the mangrove forest establishes precious data in increasing the effectiveness of current breakwater model.