Tag Archives: discretization errors

Accurate vertical profiles of turbulent flow in z-layer models

F.W. Platzek, G.S. Stelling, J.A. Jankowski and J.D. Pietrzak

Abstract. Three-dimensional hydrodynamic z-layer models, which are used for simulating the flow in rivers, estuaries, and oceans, suffer from an inaccurate and often discontinuous bottom shear stress representation, due to the staircase bottom. We analyze the governing equations and clearly show the cause of the inaccuracies. Based on the analysis, we present a new method that significantly reduces the errors and the grid dependency of the results. Continue reading