Residual Pressure Feedback Method for Simulation of Free Surface Flow

Abstract

The concept of “feedback” is introduced into potential free surface flow to derive a new and simple iterative method termed the residual pressure feedback method that is used for computing free surface profile. The residual pressure that vanishes when the convergence is achieved is fed back in order to adjust the residual pressure at the free surface and the free surface elevation continuously during the process of iteration. The use of the proposed method is demonstrated through a typical example of flow under sluice gates. The calculated results agree satisfactorily with those obtained from other methods and experimental data. This method features a simple iterative process, an easy-to-formulate computer code, and rapid convergence. Unlike some iterative methods, it is not necessary to greatly modify the computer program when the method is used to calculate different examples.