Collocated discrete subdomain meshless method for dam-break and dam-breaching modelling

Abstract

This paper introduces a ‘collocated discrete subdomain meshless method’ to solve shallow water equations for free-surface flows with conservation of sediment mass. The computational domain in the method is discretised by distributed nodal points. Shape functions are made using the moving least-squares method for efficiency and simplicity. A number of collocation points, independent of nodal points, are used to form the specified residual function. The sum of residuals at the collocation points for each subdomain is zero in the problem domain and boundaries. In addition, boundary conditions are readily enforced. The model was verified by comparing results of simulated and physically modelled dam-break flows. There was good agreement between the analytical solution and experimental measured data, and a high convergence rate and efficiency were achieved. The method appears to have significant potential for investigating a variety of problems concerning coupled flow with sediment transport.