Characteristic Dissipative Galerkin Scheme for Open‐Channel Flow

Many open‐channel flow problems may be modeled as depth‐averaged flows. Petrov‐Galerkin finite element methods, in which up‐wind weighted test functions are used to introduce selective numerical dissipation, have been used successfully for modeling open‐channel flow problems. The underlying consistency and generality of the finite element method is attractive because separate computational algorithms for subcritical and supercritical flow are not required and algorithm extension to the two‐dimensional depth‐averaged flow equations is straightforward. Here, a reconsideration of the fundamental role of the characteristics in the determination of the up‐wind weighting and the use of the conservation form of the governing equations, leads to a new Petrov‐Galerkin scheme entitled the characteristic dissipative Galerkin method. A linear stability analysis illustrates the selective damping of short wavelengths and excellent phase accuracy achieved by this scheme, as well as its insensitivity to parameter variation. Numerical tests are also presented to illustrate the rugged performance of the scheme. This method could be extended to other hyperbolic systems such as: two‐dimensional flows, multilayer fluids, or sediment‐transport problems.