Numerical study of waves generated during iceberg calving in sliding mode

The calving of large-scale icebergs into the sea can generate a local tsunami that may threaten human lives or passing ships. A smoothed particle hydrodynamics model of this rigid-body–fluid system was established to simulate the sliding mode of the detaching iceberg and the waves generated during its collapse. The generation and evolution processes, and the near flow-field characteristics of the waves are analyzed and presented in detail. The simulation results show that the waves have different features from impulse waves generated in landslides. Waves generated in iceberg calving can generate not only a huge leading wave but also a notable second wave that under certain conditions may have an amplitude comparable or even larger than that of its leading wave. A criterion based on the Froude number and a combined dimensionless number formed from the aspect ratio and the relative height of the iceberg are established to distinguish the leading and second waves. Using 125 cases of simulations of these waves for different conditions, two empirical equations for quantifying the amplitudes of both waves in terms of the Froude number, aspect ratio, and relative iceberg length are given that may be of practical help in hazard assessments from iceberg calving.