An unstructured grid hydrodynamic and sediment transport model for Changjiang Estuary

Abstract

An unstructured grid hydrodynamic and sediment transport model for Changjiang Estuary is developed in the current paper. The model employs finite volume method to discretize the governing equations. Semi-implicit method originally developed by Casulli is utilized to remove the stability limitations associated with the surface gravity wave. A wetting and drying (WAD) scheme is proposed to account for the moving boundary at the shoals and tidal flats. The model is used to investigate the hydrodynamics and sediment transport in the Changjiang Estuary. Comparisons with the measured data show that the model can predict water level and tidal current very well. The variations of sediment concentration are also reasonably captured by the model.