Interactive exploration of fluvial morphodynamics

Abstract:

One of the challenges in the modelling of fluvial morphodynamics is capturing the complex behaviour that results from the dynamical interaction between currents, sediment transport, and bed level changes. 
Building proper understanding of such complex behaviour requires exploration.

Here we propose an interactive explorative approach based on numerical modelling. This complements flume and field studies, stability analyses and parameter sensitivity studies using a batch of numerical simulations. With the presented approach researchers can -- similar to flume and field studies -- inspect and interact with the morphological evolution in real-time. Due to the numerical basis, the user can benefit from a number of additional features that aren't possible in physical studies, such as the ability to pause (and in the future rewind) the dynamics, and to look in detail at the numerics of the individual processes that cause the simulated behaviour while the system evolves.

We will demonstrate this interactive modelling approach based on the new Delft3D Flexible Mesh solver and a number of validation cases, and sketch our vision for applying this technique to larger more integrated models of rivers, estuaries and coastal regions.