A non-hydrostatic numerical model for calculating free-surface stratified flows

Abstract

A three-dimensional non-hydrostatic numerical model for simulation of the free-surface stratified flows is presented. The model is a non-hydrostatic extension of free-surface primitive equation model with a general vertical coordinate and horizontal orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. The model equations are integrated with mode-splitting technique and decomposition of pressure and velocity fields on hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic components. The model was tested against laboratory experiments on the steep wave transformation over the longshore bar, solitary wave impact on the vertical wall, the collapse of the mixed region in the thin pycnocline, mixing in the lock-exchange flows and water exchange through the sea strait. The agreement is generally fair.