Development and Validation of a Wave-Current Interaction Model for Estuary and Coastal Applications

This talk presents the development of a general wave-current interaction model, SRH-Coast; it features new improvements over the existing models. SRH-Coast adopts the one-model one-mesh (OMOM) approach. OMOM represents improvements over the existing models in the following areas: (a) one mesh is used for both flow/current solver and wave model and the mesh adopts the most flexible polygonal type so that any existing mesh types in use may be included; (b) the flow/current solver and wave model are coupled tightly, so that there is no need for model steering between the two. OMOM makes the simulation more efficient and easier to perform. The wave model solves the multi-frequency, multi-direction wave action balance equation, while the current model is based on SRH-2D – a general 2D depth-averaged hydraulic model. In the talk, detailed governing equations, relevant theories, and the numerical methods will be presented. The focus will then be on the model application and validation to a field case.