  This paper develops and evaluates a novel 3D fully-Lagrangian
(particle-based) numerical model, based on the hybrid discrete element method
(DEM) and moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) mesh-free techniques, for
modeling the highly-dynamic ice-wave interactions. Both MPS and DEM belong to
mesh-free Lagrangian (particle) techniques. The model considers ice-wave
dynamics as a multiphase continuum-discrete system. While the MPS solves the
continuum equations of free-surface flow in a Lagrangian particle-based domain,
the DEM uses a multi-sphere Hertzian contact dynamic model to simulate the ice
floes motion and interaction. The hybrid model predicts the motion and
collision of ice floes as well as their interaction with water, boundaries, and
any obstacle in their way. Considering the mesh-free Lagrangian nature of both
DEM and MPS, the developed model has an inherent ability to predict the
free-drift (absence of internal stress) movements of the ice floes, e.g.,
sliding, rolling, colliding, and piling-up, in violent free-surface flow. A
small-scale and challenging experiment based on dam-break flow over dry and wet
beds with floating block floes, which mimics the characteristics of an
idealized jam release, has been conducted to provide useful and comprehensive
quality data for the validation of the proposed model, as well as other
numerical models. Experimental and numerical results of the free-surface
profile and the position of the blocks are compared. The results show the
ability of the model to numerically reproduce and predict the complex
three-dimensional dynamic behavior of wave-ice floes interaction. Overall, this
study is a first effort toward developing an ice-wave dynamics within a fully
Lagrangian framework, and its results can be extended to bring an in-depth
understanding of the physics of the real-scale ice-wave or river ice dynamic
problems in the future.
