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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1434
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1434
29 Sep 2023
 | 29 Sep 2023

An automatic mesh generator for coupled 1D/2D hydrodynamic models

Younghun Kang and Ethan J. Kubatko

Abstract. Two-dimensional (2D), depth-averaged shallow water equation (SWE) models are routinely used to simulate flooding in coastal areas — areas that often include vast networks of channels and flood-control topographic features/structures, such as barrier islands and levees. Adequately resolving these features within the confines of a 2D model can be computationally expensive, which has led to coupling 2D simulation tools to less-expensive, one-dimensional (1D) models. Under certain 1D/2D coupling approaches, this introduces internal constraints that must be considered in the generation of the 2D computational mesh used. In this paper, we further develop an existing automatic unstructured mesh generation tool for SWE models, ADMESH+, to sequentially (i) identify 1D constraints from the raw input data used in the mesh generation process, namely, the digital elevation model (DEM) and land/water delineation data, (ii) distribute grid points along these internal constraints according to feature curvature and user-prescribed minimum grid spacing, and (iii) integrate these internal constraints into the 2D mesh-size-function and mesh-generation processes. The developed techniques, which include a novel approach for determining the so-called medial axis of a polygon, are described in detail and demonstrated on three test cases, including two inland watersheds with vast networks of channels and a complex estuarian system on the Texas, US coast.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Feb 2024
An automatic mesh generator for coupled 1D–2D hydrodynamic models
Younghun Kang and Ethan J. Kubatko
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 1603–1625, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-1603-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-1603-2024, 2024
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Models used to simulate the flow of coastal and riverine waters, including flooding, require a...
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