A fast water-slide layout approach using smooth surfaces, Saint Venant’s stationary water streamline, and passenger sliding interaction – theory, implementation, and validation

Abstract Water-slide manufacturers are constantly searching for innovative designs that maximize the rider’s fun while complying with safety requirements. However, current state-of-the-art does not offer any simulation tool capable of aiding design phase before manufacture in an affordable computational time. In this paper, we present a novel approach using smooth surface models together Saint Venant’s filament theory to predict water channel and, by this, realistic estimation passenger/water-slide interaction. The paper covers and experimental validation case circular slide cross-sections. It is shown predicted follows very well measurement even without influence water-height terms elliptical correction cross-section slanted streamlines respect centerline tube. Thus, kind applications, simple Bernoulli streamline model proper water-slide friction parameters be sufficient. On other hand, parameter identification fluid-surface shows three must considered: static one, curvature-dependent correction, third factor changes from low large curvature (splashing effect). results also compared fluid simulations OpenFOAM. less accurate than fluid-dynamics model, needing only 1/100.000 passenger/slide interaction multibody including contact passenger/fluid interactions. between passenger significant correct reproduction real motion, showing relevant computer-based layouts. As water-channel can sufficiently modeled Bernoulli’s theory, independent thus extendable general cases. Also, as computations run at 7/10 time, they used online optimizations passenger-specific actions on site.