Solution of depth‐averaged tidal currents in Persian Gulf on unstructured overlapping finite volumes

Abstract

AbstractHydrodynamic simulation of tidal currents in Persian Gulf due to tidal fluctuations in Hurmoz strait and inflow for Arvand River is presented in this paper and tidal constituents of M2 and K1 are attained. The mathematical model utilized consists of depth‐averaged equations of continuity and motion in two‐dimensional horizontal plane which considers hydrostatic pressure distribution. The effect of evaporation is considered in the continuity equation and the effects of bed slope and friction, as well as the Coriolis effects are considers in two equations of motion. The cell vertex finite volume method is applied for converting the governing equations into discrete forms for unstructured overlapping control volumes. Using unstructured triangular meshes provides great flexibility for modelling of complex geometries in the real world flow domain. The accuracy of the developed flow solver is assessed using two test cases. Firstly, the results of the hydrodynamic model for fluctuating flow on the variable bed slope are compared with available analytical solution. Secondly, in order to simulate circulating flow patterns the numerical results are compared with the reported data in the literature for deep flow in a canal with sudden expansion. Finally, the performance of the computer model to simulate tidal flow in a geometrically complex domain is examined by simulation of tidal currents in the Persian Gulf and computing tidal constituents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.