Author(s): Qiuhua Liang; Luke S. Smith
Linked Author(s): Qiuhua Liang
Keywords: Urban flood inundation; Hydrodynamic model; Finite-volume Godunov-type scheme; Shallow water equations; Graphics processing unit
Abstract: A new shock-capturing hydrodynamic modelling framework is presented for urban flood simulation. The software solves the two-dimensional shallow water equations (SWEs) using a first-order accurate Godunov-type shock-capturing scheme coupled with an HLLC approximate Riemann solver for flux evaluation. The framework is also able to effectively handle wet-dry interfaces and complex domain topography. In order to accelerate large-scale high-resolution simulations, the benefits of modern graphics processing units (GPUs) are explored and a new software structure is implemented, which distinguishes it from existing flood modelling tools. In order to test its performance, the tool is applied to predict flood inundation due to rainfall and a point source surface flow in Glasgow, Scotland, and a hypothetical inundation event at different spatial resolutions in Thamesmead, England caused by embankment failure. Numerical experiments demonstrate significant benefits for high-resolution modelling of urban flood inundation, and a much-improved level of performance without compromising result quality.
Year: 2013