Some solutions of the shallow water wave equations

This thesis is concerned with the solution of the shallow water wave equations. To solve the equations for a real life domain of flow a numerical solution is required. Analytical solutions are useful for testing numerical solutions. Previous research in this area is examined. Existing analytical solutions of the nonlinear shallow water equations involving moving boundaries do not include bottom friction. Existing analytical solutions of the nonlinear shallow water equations involving fixed boundaries can be modifed. The SLM (Selective Lumped Mass) scheme for numerically solving the shallow water equations has been used to accurately model tides both in bays with fixed boundaries and bays with moving boundaries. The SLM scheme for domains with moving boundaries has not been fully explained in published papers. Analytical solutions are established for moving boundary shallow water equations involving nonlinear continuity for unforced frictional flow in parabolic canals, circular paraboloids and elliptical paraboloids, and both for forced frictional flow and unforced frictionless flow in a parabolic canal. Analytical solutions are established for one dimensional nonlinear frictionless shallow water wave flow in a basin of constant depth, with a fixed boundary and with a sinusoidal input at the open boundary. The SLM scheme is coded in Visual C ++ and validated against an analytical solution, a convergence study is carried out for the SLM scheme and a computer program is written in Visual C ++ to generate finite element meshes. The SLM scheme is used to model one dimensional nonlinear shallow water flow in a basin of constant depth, with fixed boundary and with sinusoidal input at the open boundary; results obtained were close to those in the analytical solution. The SLM scheme when applied to a moving boundary domain has been modifed, with the resultant scheme used to model forced frictionless flow and forced frictional flow in a parabolic canal, with results close to those of the analytical solutions developed. The SLM scheme is applied to model accurately the existing tidal heights and currents in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. The SLM scheme is applied to model the effect of proposed channel deepening on the tides in Port Phillip Bay; the effect is small, increasing the tidal heights by at most seven millimetres. The conclusion of this thesis is that successful analytical and numerical solutions of the shallow water equations are developed both for domains with fixed boundaries and domains with moving boundaries.