Context : 
Until now, At CEA, tsunamis generated by landslides were modeled using a 2D long 
wave code (Avalanche) adapted to the computing resources available at the time. 
A former postdoctoral research (2023-2025) has shown the interest of OpenFOAM 
for full 3D simulation of this problem. During this former postdoctoral 
research, a one-way coupling between the 2D propagation code (Taitoko) and 
OpenFOAM in 3D was developed in order to propagate waves over long distances.

Job description: 
The work carried out by the former postdoctoral researcher will be continued. 
The first objective will be to familiarize oneself with the tools developed and 
finalize a publication already started on a 80 Mm3 collapse that occurred in 
1979 in Mururoa. The main objective is then to carry out simulations of 
potential collapses in the northern zone, bearing in mind that the main 
difficulty lies in defining the geometry of these potential collapses. The 
propagation of waves over long distances will be simulated by operating the one-
way coupling with Taitoko using an accurate bathymetry available.

Procedure:
The simulations will be carried out at the CEA (Bruyères-le-Châtel) on TGCC 
machines. Potential collapses in the northern zone will be defined based on the 
results of another CEA postdoctoral researcher currently working at Ifremer. For 
these collapses, the postdoctoral researcher will have to optimize the mesh to 
match the bathymetry, as well as accurately describe the collapse and the 
initial water surface. During the first few months, the postdoctoral researcher 
will study the sensitivity of the model to the numerical and physical 
parameters. Then the case studies will be carried out.  

Level and skills : PhD completed. Expertise in Openfoam modeling related to 
fluid mechanics. Experience in wave modeling appreciated.   

Contract duration : Two years
Gross salary : 2887€/month 
Physical presence at the CEA center requested. The researcher must be accredited 
to enter the center, given the strategic military research conducted there.

Contact : 
Philippe Heinrich (DIF/DASE/SLDG/LEGA), 0033 169264000, philippe.heinrich@cea.fr
 
Stéphane Abadie (UPPA, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour), 
stephane.abadie@univ-pau.fr

References :
Abadie, S. M., et al. "Numerical modeling of tsunami waves generated by the 
flank collapse of the Cumbre Vieja Volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands): Tsunami 
source and near field effects." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 117.C5 
(2012).
Abadie, Stéphane, et al. "La Palma landslide tsunami: calibrated wave source and 
assessment of impact on French territories." Natural Hazards and Earth System 
Sciences 20.11 (2020): 3019-3038.
Paris, Alexandre, Philippe Heinrich, and Stéphane Abadie. "Landslide tsunamis: 
Comparison between depth-averaged and Navier–Stokes models." Coastal Engineering 
170 (2021): 104022.
Parvin, Amir H., et al. "Validation of OpenFOAM with respect to the elementary 
processes involved in the generation of waves by subaerial landslides." Applied 
Ocean Research 153 (2024): 104296.
Abadie, Stéphane, et al. "On the optimum of the energy transfer efficiency in 
the generation of waves by subaerial landslides." Communications Earth & 
Environment 6.1 (2025): 729.