Nearshore wave-flow modelling

SWASH is a numerical wave-flow model for describing the propagation and transformation of dispersive surface waves from offshore to the beach, wave propagation and agitation in ports and harbors, rapidly varied shallow water flows in coastal flooding due to e.g. dike breaks and tsunamis, density driven flows in coastal waters, and large-scale tides and storm surges.

The governing equations of SWASH are the non-hydrostatic, non-linear shallow water equations, and optionally the equations for conservative transport of salinity, temperature and suspended sediment. The need to accurately predict small-scale coastal flows and transport of contaminants encountered in environmental issues is becoming more and more recognized. In principle, SWASH has no limitations and can capture flow phenomena with spatial scales from centimetres to kilometres and temporal scales from seconds to hours. Yet, this model can be employed to resolve the dynamics of wave transformation, buoyancy flow and turbulent exchange of momentum, salinity, heat and suspended sediment in shallow seas, coastal waters, estuaries, reefs, rivers and lakes.

Practical questions like ‘How does one schematize an area of interest in SWASH?’, ‘Which model parameters are present and how should these be applied and/or calibrated’ and ‘How can we post process and interpret the model outcomes?’ will also be discussed in detail in this course.

Learning to use SWASH in projects

By following this course you will learn:

• the basic theory of waves and flows in coastal areas
• the basic principles of modelling of these waves and flows in the SWASH model
• to enhance your SWASH modelling knowledge and skills
• basic physical and numerical concepts of the SWASH model
• possibilities and limitations of SWASH
• hands-on exercises.

Intended for

Project engineers, researchers, PhD students and contractors dealing with numerical models.