Evaluation of Numerical Models of Flood and Tide Propagation in Channels

Abstract

An analysis of the predictive capabilities of cross-section–integrated models of gradually varied, unsteady flow in channels initially highlights the physical characteristics of the conservation equations, with particular emphasis on those aspects that are operationally crucial or potentially challenged in numerical implementation. A sequence of benchmark test problems are introduced with the express purpose of evaluating all potentially important features of expected response patterns. This sequence of problems is designed to exercise the physically and numerically significant response patterns that are expected to be within the predictive capability of numerical models of flood and tide propagation in channels. An extensive and independent review of this nature should be a routine and automatic part of any numerical model study.