Shallow Water Wave Equation Simulation: Reverse Shoaling?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on a MATLAB simulation of the shallow water wave equation, utilizing the equations \(\frac{\partial v}{\partial t}=-g\frac{\partial \eta}{\partial x}\) and \(\frac{\partial h}{\partial t}=-h\frac{\partial v}{\partial x}\). The simulation effectively models traveling waves, reflection, superposition, diffraction, and refraction. However, the user encounters an issue where wave height decreases with decreasing water depth, contrary to expectations. The user questions whether this behavior is a known characteristic of the shallow water equations or a flaw in their model.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of shallow water wave equations
  • Proficiency in MATLAB for numerical simulations
  • Knowledge of wave dynamics, including reflection and refraction
  • Familiarity with tsunami modeling techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Investigate the implications of decreasing depth on wave height in shallow water equations
  • Explore quasi-linear formulations for wave height enhancement in simulations
  • Learn about numerical stability and accuracy in MATLAB simulations of fluid dynamics
  • Review case studies of tsunami run-up simulations for comparative analysis
USEFUL FOR

Researchers, oceanographers, and engineers involved in fluid dynamics simulations, particularly those focused on wave behavior in varying depths.

person123
Messages
326
Reaction score
52
TL;DR
My simulation of water waves using the shallow water equations predicts decreasing wave height as depth decreases.
I'm creating a simulation of the shallow water wave equation in MATLAB. I'm using the equations:

$$\frac{\partial v}{\partial t}=-g\frac{\partial \eta}{\partial x}$$
$$\frac{\partial h}{\partial t}=-h\frac{\partial v}{\partial x}$$

Iteratively updating the velocity from neighboring heights and then the height from neighboring velocities.

It's able to modeling traveling waves traveling at ##c=\sqrt{gh}## as well as reflection, superposition of waves, and (in 2D) diffraction and refraction. However, when the depth decreases over the distances, it predicts the wave height decreases instead of increases. In the attached video, for example, the water depth decreases linearly from a maximum to ##0## with increasing ##x##.

Is this decrease in wave height predicted with the shallow water equations, or do you think this is an issue with my model? Thanks!

 
Physics news on Phys.org
It may be the model? I've done a 1D tsunami run-up simulation as exercise a lifetime ago, but I used a quasi-linear formulation:
1650023269635.png

1650023331485.png

This definitely did increase the waveheight with decreasing depth.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
644
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K