Two-dimensional numerical model of two-layer shallow water equations for confluence simulation

Abstract

This study presents a finite-volume explicit method to solve 2D two-layer shallow water equations. This numerical model is intended to describe two-layer shallow flows in which the superposed layers differ in velocity, density and rheology in a two-dimensional domain. The rheological behavior of mudflow or debris flow is called the Bingham fluid. Thus, the shear stress on rigid bed can be derived from the constitutive equation. The computational approach adopts the HLL scheme, a novel approach for the purpose of computing a Godunov flux and solving the Riemann problem approximately proposed by Harten, Lax and van Leer, as a basic building block, treats the bottom slope by lateralizing the momentum flux, and refines the scheme using the Strang splitting to manage the frictional source term. This study successfully performed 2D two-layer shallow water computations on a rigid bed. The proposed numerical model can describe the variety of depths and velocities of substances including water and mud, when the hyperconcentrated tributary flows into the main river. The analytical results in this study will be valuable for further advanced research and for designing or planning hydraulic engineering structures.