A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FINITE VOLUME AND FINITE ELEMENT ON SOME TRANSCRITICAL FREE SURFACE FLOW PROBLEMS

Abstract

This paper presents details of finite volume and finite element numerical models based on unstructured triangular meshes that are used to solve the two-dimensional nonlinear shallow water equations (SWEs). The finite volume scheme uses Roe's approximate Riemann solver to evaluate the convection terms. Second order accuracy is achieved by means of the MUSCL approach with MinMod and VanAlbada limiters. The finite element model utilizes the Lax–Wendroff two-step scheme, which is second-order in space and time. The models are validated and their relative performance compared for several benchmark problems, including a hydraulic jump, and flows in converging and converging–diverging channels.