Three dimensional numerical simulations of wetting and drying bed due to tidal currents using fractional step method

Abstract

This paper describes the development and application of a three dimensional (3D) multilayer hydrodynamic model to tidal motions in Ariake Sea. The governing equations are discretized into finite difference horizontally and finite element vertically in a uniform staggered grid system. The velocity components in the x, y, and z directions are directly obtained. Our study introduces a new 3D, time-dependent, non-hydrostatic, tidal current model that can compute wetting and drying bed (WAD) in tidal flats due to tidal motion. The 3D model is tested for artificial tidal flat surrounded by breakwaters in order to investigate the performance of the presented model. The model results for the velocities and the free surface water elevations coincide with observation for Saigo Port (Abualtayef et al., 2006). Then, the model is applied to the Ariake Sea. In the first simulation, the tidal current behavior including current circulation and …