A heuristic investigation into methods to model medium-term meso-scale morphological features
Harlequin, D. (2021). A heuristic investigation into methods to model medium-term meso-scale morphological features. MSc Thesis. TU Delft/Deltares: Delft. ix, 159 pp.
The overarching aim of this research is to contribute towards a best practice in modelling meso-scale O(10km), medium-term O(5yrs.) morphological features in Tidal & Estuarine environments. Therefore, various modelling aspects and stages are reviewed. The first pillar argues the need for numerical models in the Geomorphological Engineering discipline on the basis of a brief overview of the historic advances in numerical modelling. Next, the foundation of a numerical model is considered by means of a concise overview of numerical discretisation techniques and their characteristics. We assess the representation of the typical set of physical processes that one may encounter in present-day morphodynamic models and compare their (mathematical) representation following from the underlying choice of discretisation technique. Hereto, we refrain ourselves to the two commonly used methods - finite element and finite difference method. The second pillar gives an overview of the methods that geomorphologists may employ to reduce the model input, and methods to accelerate morphological computations. The last pillar sheds light on different methods that may be applied by geomorphologists to give more insight into the performance of morphodynamic models. These results can, in turn, be of considerable interest in the pursuit to quantitatively validate model predictions. Lastly, this research is concluded with a set of interviews wherein esteemed applied morphodynamic experts were asked about their perception on a possible best practice in modelling skillful meso-scale features in the timeframe of reference. This research hints, therefore, towards an overarching systematic strategy that could be applied by geomorphologists to acquire accurate morphodynamic model predictions on the temporal scale of 5-10 years and for meso-scale features in the order of tens of kilometres.
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