1.4 Present Approach1 Introduction1.2 Applications1.3 Limitations

Contents

Index

1.3 Limitations

The use of the St. Venant equations is above all limited by the previously mentioned assumption of long waves. When the gravitational waves can no longer be considered as "long" (i.e. h/l~1), the hypothesis of two-dimensionality of the flow becomes invalid. Particularly, so-called "breaking and peaking" of waves near the shoreline cannot be realistically captured by this model. Surface tension (capillary effects) is equally excluded in the present description since these effects are associated to the regime of very short waves.

Furthermore, the effect of a partially free surface, e.g. in a combination of pipe and river flow, can only be taken into acount by a split of the problem into zones where the respective models would be applied.

In the case of very large domains (marine flows extending over a large range in latitude) Coriolis forces should be included in the equations.

The effect of wind on waves is not taken into account, i.e. the action of tangential stress at the water/air interface is neglected.

markus.uhlmann AT ciemat.es


1.4 Present Approach1 Introduction1.2 Applications1.3 LimitationsContentsIndex