The Numerical Simulation of Shallow Water: Estimation of the Roughness Coefficient on the Flood Stage

Abstract

The results of the numerical simulations of the dynamics of shallow waters for Volga-Akhtuba Floodplain are discussed. The mathematical model is based on the system of Saint-Venant equations. Numerical solution applies a combined Lagrangian-Eulerian (cSPH-TVD) algorithm. We have investigated the features of the spring flood in 2011 and found the inapplicability of the hydrodynamical model with the constant roughness coefficient n M . We have found a good agreement between the results of numerical simulations and the observational data at gauging stations which allows us to estimate n M in low water n M min = 0.02 and the maximum water level in the river Volga n M max = 0.06–0.07.