Applications of Shallow Water SPH Model in Mountainous Rivers

Abstract

In this paper, the Shallow Water Equations (SWEs) are solved by the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) approach. The proposed SWE-SPH model employs a novel prediction/correction two-step solution algorithm to satisfy the equation of continuity. The concept of buffer layer is used to generate the fluid particles at the inflow boundary. The model is first applied to several benchmark water flow applications involving relatively large bed slope that is typical of the mountainous regions. The numerical SWE-SPH computations realistically disclosed the fundamental flow patterns. Coupled with a sediment morph-dynamic model, the SWE-SPH is then further applied to the movement of sediment bed load in an L-shape channel and a river confluence, which demonstrated its robust capacity to simulate the natural rivers.

Keywords

• SWE; SPH; Two-step solution; Prediction/correction; Sediment transport; Buffer layer; Mountainous region.