Abstract
One-dimensional numerical tidal models are frequently used by civil engineers. Whether the engineer is developing in-house software or running a commercially available package, some form of quality assurance testing needs to be undertaken so that he/she can be confident that there are no errors in the computer code. The practical operating characteristics of the numerical scheme employed in the model also need to be assessed.
The problem addressed in this paper is how should the engineer check the veracity of the model output, bearing in mind that exact solutions to the non-linear equations of motion are not available? Four possible strategies are considered involving the use of: field data, simplified analytical solutions, laboratory data and alternative numerical solutions. The advantages and disadvantages of these strategies are discussed with reference to a set of numerical solutions for the case of tidal propagation in a simple idealised estuary.
It is concluded that laboratory data offers the best source of objective validation data, but difficulties remain with the representation of frictional resistance.
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© 1992 Computational Mechanics Publications
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Wallis, S.G., Knight, D.W. (1992). On Quality Assurance for Numerical Tidal Models. In: Partridge, P.W. (eds) Computer Modelling of Seas and Coastal Regions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2878-0_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2878-0_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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