Two-dimensional dam-break analysis: ADI based curvilinear hydrodynamic model

This dissertation presents a set of two-dimensional (2D) computational models developed to simulate free-surface flows occurring in open channels, river basins, or estuaries, especially dam-break or tide-induced flows. These types of flows are best described by the two-dimensional shallow water equations called the St. Venant equations, which are derived from the vertical integration of the Navier-Stokes equations with the use of bottom and water surface boundary conditions. These governing equations are solved numerically using both the MacCormack Scheme, Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) MacCormack scheme and the Alternating-Direction Implicit (ADI) scheme. The curvilinear coordinate system has also been applied to simulate flows in a more complex fluid domain. Two physical model tests were conducted in the hydraulics lab at the University of Houston for the verification of the numerical models. The physical experiments consisted of a dam-break onto a dry bed with a converging entrance and a tapered 90° bend, as well as a dam-break onto a channel with a converging entrance and a 90° bend.;The development and application of the two-dimensional free-surface flow models will be presented in this dissertation along with background information on the various methods attempted, as well as the implementation and further development of a wet/dry algorithm which was incorporated into the ADI scheme and applied to a test case. In addition, further research consisting of the implementation of the QUICKEST scheme to improve on the convective terms in the ADI scheme will be introduced. All comparisons between predicted and measured free-surface elevations will be presented and discussed.