Galerkin finite element methods for the numerical solution of two classical-Boussinesq type systems over variable bottom topography

Abstract

We consider two ‘Classical’ Boussinesq type systems modelling two-way propagation of long surface waves in a finite channel with variable bottom topography. Both systems are derived from the 1-d Serre–Green–Naghdi (SGN) system; one of them is valid for stronger bottom variations, and coincides with Peregrine’s system, and the other is valid for smaller bottom variations. We discretize in the spatial variable simple initial–boundary-value problems (ibvp’s) for both systems using standard Galerkin-finite element methods and prove L2 error estimates for the ensuing semidiscrete approximations. We couple the schemes with the 4th order-accurate, explicit, classical Runge–Kutta time-stepping procedure and use the resulting fully discrete methods in numerical simulations of dispersive wave propagation over variable bottoms with several kinds of boundary conditions, including absorbing ones. We describe in detail the changes that solitary waves undergo when evolving under each system over a variety of variable-bottom environments. We assess the efficacy of both systems in approximating these flows by comparing the results of their simulations with each other, with simulations of the SGN-system, and with available experimental data from the literature.