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A 2‐D Finite Element Model for Unsteady Free‐Surface Flow and its Experimental Verification
Author(s) -
Tou S. K. W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
computer‐aided civil and infrastructure engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.773
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1467-8667
pISSN - 1093-9687
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8667.1991.tb00264.x
Subject(s) - finite element method , computation , closure (psychology) , flow (mathematics) , surface (topology) , open channel flow , free surface , mechanics , channel (broadcasting) , data flow model , computer science , mathematics , geometry , engineering , algorithm , structural engineering , physics , computer network , economics , market economy
This paper describes the development of a 2‐D finite element model for unsteady free‐surface flow generated by rapid gate closure. The performance of the model is assessed by comparing its numerical results with those obtained from experiments conducted in a rectangular open channel. Excellent agreement is observed between the model and the experiment. For comparison, a 1‐D model is also tested and the results are found to be poor. The 2‐D model gives a more realistic description of the flow than that of 1‐D approach and the computation is less complicated than that of 3‐D approach. The finite element method is a better alternative than the method of characteristics when the problems are of 2 or 3‐D nature.